Stefon Diggs is already giving the Washington Commanders something beyond the obvious.
Yes, the big picture is simple: the Commanders want another proven target for Jayden Daniels and a little relief for Terry McLaurin. But Dan Quinn is looking at Diggs through a different lens, one that has more to do with what happens in practice than what shows up on Sundays.
Quinn said Diggs’ presence should sharpen the defensive backs who line up against him every day.
"So to add another competitor into that spot, this is a really skilled receiver," Quinn said. "He’s got great route-running ability. So when you practice against that, like you can’t help but, you know, improve your own game."
That matters because Quinn knows exactly what kind of challenge Diggs brings. He’s coached against him before, and now Washington’s corners will be forced to deal with Diggs’ releases, his quickness, and his ability to separate at a level a scout-team receiver simply can’t match. Every rep against him becomes a test, and every test is a chance to spot what works and what doesn’t.
Quinn also thinks the biggest value might come from Diggs helping teammates see things they can’t always see themselves.
"As we build it together with Steph, like I’m excited to see, you know, the insights that he can share across the ball," said Quinn. "Like that’s where teammates can really explore.
‘Hey man, you’re giving this away. This is something I see that was hard to defend.’
And so coaches do it, but when the players start doing it, that’s when you can really elevate the team."
That doesn’t mean Washington brought Diggs in to tutor the secondary. But it does mean the Commanders have another veteran voice in the room, and Quinn has made competition a major theme throughout camp. A player like Diggs raises the standard for everyone around him, especially the defenders who have to chase him snap after snap.
Even before he plays a regular-season snap, Diggs could end up helping Washington on both sides of the ball.
The Commanders also moved quickly to address another spot on the roster, reportedly set to sign Max Scharping less than 24 hours after releasing guard Tyler Cooper. Scharping spent part of the 2024 season on Washington’s practice squad before Pittsburgh signed him away. A former second-round pick, he has played in 81 NFL games with 33 starts, giving Washington another experienced body on the interior line.
That depth matters with center Nick Allegretti out because of injury. Washington has other options at center, though they are guards or players who have already been converted to the position. With Allegretti unavailable, the Commanders are still looking for more proven help inside.
Elsewhere, rookie Sonny Styles spent time with longtime Burgundy and Gold fan and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where the two talked football, Styles’ adjustment to the NFL, and his move to Washington.
Earnhardt asked about Styles correctly predicting who would draft him, and Styles pointed to the feeling he got during his visit.
"When I visited in person, and I was in the facility around Coach Quinn, our GM, AP, and just like the whole team, like a whole staff, like just it felt right," Styles said. "So, like going into the draft, I don't know.
I just had a feeling. Felt like that's where home was going to be.
Ended up working out the way it was supposed to."
Styles said Quinn has only strengthened that impression since he arrived.
"He makes it easy to play for him. It’s a guy you want to go out there and give it your all for."
In Other News...
Commanders Shuffle O-Line Again As Camp Competition Takes Another Turn
Washingtons training camp shuffle along the offensive line continued this week after the club released Tyler Cooper to clear room for Stefon Diggs and kept working to stabilize a group still under pressure. The Commanders have been trying to build out their depth across the front as camp wears on, and the timing has made every move along the line feel a little more important.
A veteran with plenty of NFL stops is now in the mix, and his arrival fits the teams immediate need for bodies and experience while the interior line sorts itself out. With Nick Allegretti dealing with a calf issue and Washington still looking for dependable options up front, the competition has taken another turn at a spot where the Commanders cant really afford to stand still. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Secondary Suddenly Has Some Young Defenders On Notice
Washingtons secondary is still sorting itself out in training camp, and the competition has taken on extra weight with Trey Amos on the physically unable to perform list and several spots in the new defensive scheme still open. Rasul Douglas, a veteran addition, has settled in quickly, while younger pieces like Mike Sainristil and Quan Martin are trying to make sure their early camp work translates into secure roles once the depth chart gets serious.
Jeremy Reaves has also moved into the conversation at safety, getting opportunities alongside Nick Cross as the staff keeps evaluating the best fit for the back end. Dan Quinn has already singled out Reaves for his communication, which matters in a group that is still learning how everything is supposed to fit together. For Washington, the bigger picture is clear enough: the secondary is offering chances, but nobody there can afford to assume a spot is locked down. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Get A Big Secondary Boost With One Question Still Looming
The Commanders got a notable boost to their secondary this week when Trey Amos was cleared to practice and taken off the active physically unable to perform list. The second-year cornerback had been working his way back after a fractured fibula, and his return to the field gives Washington another important option as it continues to sort through its defensive back depth.
Dorance Armstrong and Tress Way were also activated off their injury lists after recent medical evaluations, adding more healthy bodies to a group that has been waiting for reinforcements. Quinn said Armstrong will be brought along with lighter work to start, which leaves the next question centered less on availability than on how quickly the Commanders can ramp everyone up and put them back into game shape. [Read more 🡒]