The Washington Commanders made one of their most interesting offseason calls when they moved on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and handed the job to assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough on a full-time basis.
That move, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, is tied directly to how the team believes Blough can push Jayden Daniels forward. Breer wrote that head coach Dan Quinn and others in the organization see Blough as someone who can help Daniels do more than simply get back to his previous level.
“I’d look for Blough to highlight what Daniels is capable of as a passer,” Breer wrote. “You’ll see that in the play-action and keeper game.
What might be tougher to pick up is how Blough also plans to leverage Daniels’s football IQ by putting more on him and giving him more command at the line. How Daniels is now working cadence, kills and checks presnap are evidence that he can more than handle it.
And, quietly, I get the sense that the staff can’t wait for the football world to see what Daniels is going to be in 2026 - especially since a lot of that world seems to have forgotten 2024.”
Breer was pointing back to Daniels’ 2024 season, when he won Offensive Rookie of the Year and helped lead Washington to the NFC Championship Game. A lot of people around the league had the Commanders pegged as a real Super Bowl threat last summer, but Daniels’ season was derailed by physical issues.
He ended up making only seven starts before the team shut him down after he aggravated a previously suffered elbow injury. Washington finished with five wins, and Quinn’s status now appears to be under pressure.
The Commanders are also counting on a big year from their receiving duo. Free-agent addition Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin are expected to give Daniels a dangerous pair of targets, and Diggs is already making an impression despite not yet playing a meaningful game for Washington.
“Interestingly,” Breer added, “the difference-maker here has been Stefon Diggs, who’s immediately stepped into a leadership role, one he deftly handled last year [with the New England Patriots ], and set a high bar for the room (as McLaurin always has).”
If Washington can get through the loss of starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is dealing with a torn triceps, and Daniels stays healthy, the Commanders may be in position to chase the level of expectation that surrounded them about a year ago.
In Other News...
Commanders Could Face A Costly Joey Porter Jr. Decision
The cornerback market is starting to feel a little more interesting, and Washington is right in the middle of it. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, multiple teams are keeping an eye on whether the Steelers might be open to moving Joey Porter Jr., a Pro Bowl-caliber defender who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Pittsburghs cap situation has made the possibility at least worth monitoring, and any conversation would almost certainly begin with the kind of compensation that usually comes with a premium young corner.
For the Commanders, the appeal is obvious. Cornerback remains a need, and injuries have only sharpened the urgency of finding more reliable help on the back end. Porter would fit the profile of a player worth pursuing, but he would also come with a price tag that could force Washington to weigh immediate help against the cost of paying to get it. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have 3 Roster Races Fans Need To Watch Vs Lions
After a win over the Dolphins, the Commanders are turning their attention to their next preseason test against the Lions, and the roster picture is still taking shape. Dan Quinn said several starters are expected to play, though the exact plan has not been set, which should give this game a little more weight than a typical August tune-up for a team still sorting through the back end of the roster.
The most interesting eyes will be on the cornerback group without Trey Amos, the safety spot next to Nick Cross, and the race for the third wide receiver role behind Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. Those jobs may not decide the season, but in a camp where every rep counts, this is the kind of game that can separate a candidate from the crowd and start to clarify who is really trending toward a spot. [Read more 🡒]
Stefon Diggs Is Already Changing The Feeling Around Washington
Stefon Diggs has wasted little time becoming part of the conversation in the Commanders locker room, and the early word around the veteran receiver has been upbeat. Sam Cosmi has already praised Diggs for the way he carries himself and for the effect he has had on teammates, including Terry McLaurin, while Dan Quinn has made it clear he expects that kind of presence from a player with Diggs rsum.
For Washington, the appeal goes beyond another proven target. The Commanders are looking for steady voices and a sharper edge inside the building, and Diggs appears to be supplying both in a way that is changing the feel around the team. His reputation has followed him into Washington, but the early signs suggest the version teammates are seeing now is leaving a very different impression. [Read more 🡒]