The Commanders enter 2026 with one obvious problem on the offensive line and a few more questions that go well beyond it.
For a while, Washington’s outlook looked like it was moving in the right direction. Training camp began with the team still something of a mystery, but there was real belief that it could push for a playoff spot if Jayden Daniels stayed healthy. Then the Commanders added four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a move that gave Daniels another top-shelf target and eased some of the pressure on Terry McLaurin.
That momentum took a hit almost immediately. The day after Diggs took part in his first Commanders practice, left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps. It was a crushing loss because Tunsil is one of the league’s best players and a key piece in keeping Daniels upright.
Washington responded by sliding Brandon Coleman back to left tackle. It’s a workable answer, especially since Coleman played the spot in 2024.
He isn’t Tunsil, but he is better than a number of NFL left tackles. The downside is that the move pulled him out of the left guard battle, where he was expected to win.
The center situation has only added to the unease. New center Nick Allegretti missed nearly all of training camp after moving there this offseason to replace Tyler Biadasz.
The Commanders remain confident in him, but outside observers have not been sold on what Washington did at the position. Throughout the summer, journeyman Julian Good-Jones and rookie sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin - a pair with just two combined career NFL snaps - split time at center.
The results were rough. Good-Jones was cut and is now on the practice squad, while Gulbin is one snap away from taking over if Allegretti can’t go.
That’s a big reason some analysts have pegged Washington to finish last in the NFC East.
But the offensive line isn’t the only area drawing concern. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer pointed to the larger adjustment facing the Commanders as they head into a season shaped by new coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones.
“It’s really rare that a veteran coach such as Dan Quinn goes through the sort of on-the-fly wholesale philosophical change that the Commandersdid this offseason, and there’s no question it’s just different with more complex schemes coming in with new coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones. Now the trick will be fitting some of the old standbys into the new way of doing things, and all eyes are going to be on quarterback Jayden Daniels in that regard. Losing Laremy Tunsil in camp-he won’t be back until at least January, and even that may be a longshot)-is a tough blow, and only underlines how his adjustment to Blough’s scheme has to chart the course back to the playoffs.”
The bigger issue, then, is that nobody really knows what this new version of Washington will look like once the games start. The schemes are one thing on paper; they’re another in live action. There’s also the question of how steep the learning curve will be, especially with a difficult opening stretch on the schedule.
And that puts even more pressure on Dan Quinn. His coordinators may be given time to settle in, but it’s fair to wonder how much patience extends to the head coach if the Commanders stumble early. That’s especially true in the first two games, both against familiar NFC East opponents.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Added Receiver Depth That Could Matter Faster Than Expected
The Commanders added another layer to their receiver room by signing Van Jefferson Jr. to the practice squad as they turn the page into Week 1 prep. Jefferson had turned in a solid training camp, but he was the odd man out when Washington finalized its 53-man roster, with Luke McCaffrey getting the nod instead.
Even so, Jefferson never felt far from the picture, and this move gives Washington a familiar contingency if the position group gets hit by injuries or simply needs more production. For a roster still sorting out its early-season depth, it is the kind of addition that could matter sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made Jaden Bradleys Early Path A Lot Tougher
The Commanders added another experienced receiver to the practice squad in Van Jefferson Jr., a move that gives Washington more depth behind its top pass catchers and subtly raises the bar for everyone else in the receiver room. For a young player like undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley, who also landed on the practice squad, it means the margin for earning attention just got a little slimmer even before the season settles into its rhythm.
Bradley still has something working in his favor: Washington views him as more than just camp depth and likes the work ethic that helped him hang around. The challenge now is turning that developmental spot into a real path forward, especially with veteran competition in the building and the practice squad becoming a proving ground rather than a placeholder. [Read more 🡒]
Treylon Burks Just Got The Commanders Opportunity He Needed
Treylon Burks entered the week with a clean slate in Washington, and the Commanders made the message even clearer when they released their Week 1 depth chart for the opener against the Eagles. Burks was listed as a starting wide receiver alongside Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, a notable sign for a player who arrived on a one-year deal and is looking for a fresh start after a difficult run with the Tennessee Titans.
The opportunity goes beyond a spot on the first depth chart. Under coordinator David Blough, Burks is expected to have a meaningful role in the offense, giving him a chance to show he can still be part of a long-term plan if he makes the most of this opening stretch. For Washington, it is a low-risk way to see whether a former first-round talent can finally find the right fit. [Read more 🡒]