The Commanders have spent training camp building on the kind of edge that can show up in a short burst and then settle right back down. Wednesday’s brief on-field scuffle came during their second padded practice, and Luke McCaffrey made it clear that the intensity isn’t a problem so much as part of the package.
When asked whether this camp feels more competitive than last year’s, McCaffrey didn’t hesitate.
"Yeah, for sure," McCaffrey replies. "We've got a lot of guys who are hungry and a lot of guys who don't like to lose.
And I think when you don't like to lose, you get every single rep as a competitive rep. We talk a lot about focusing on what's happening that day, and I think we have guys that do that so well.
We compete so well in the moment and let the chips fall where they may when you get out there. But I think there's no lack of going for it on our team."
That kind of edge can spill over in practice, and that’s exactly what happened this week. The Commanders are pushing hard, and McCaffrey’s comments framed the whole thing as a byproduct of a roster that wants every rep.
He also pointed to the way the veterans are shaping the younger players around them, especially Terry McLaurin. One reporter noticed McLaurin moving like another coach on the field, staying active, talking after plays and keeping teammates engaged. McCaffrey said that influence is impossible to miss.
"Oh my goodness, it's incredible," McCaffrey says. "He sets the tone for our room, and I think our room has fallen right into place with that.
The energy, the enthusiasm, the details and focus. When you have a leader like him, who is unselfish, it really sets the tone because if he's the guy that's hyping people up, you know, how many All-Pros he's been to now?
So, when you have somebody like that, you have no excuse but to be a team player, but to love and fall in love with your role."
McLaurin has long carried that competitive streak, dating back to his Ohio State days, and it shows in the way he leads as much as in the way he plays. For the Commanders, that mix of veteran presence and constant competition has become part of the camp atmosphere.
In Other News...
Why Commanders Are Betting Big On Odafe Oweh In 2026
Odafe Owehs path to Washington has been anything but ordinary. After coming into the NFL in 2021 out of Penn State, the edge rusher spent four seasons with the Ravens, where his athletic profile made him a first-round pick, and later landed with the Chargers before signing on with the Commanders. For a defense looking to keep building around young, disruptive talent, Oweh arrives with the kind of length and burst that can change a game plan on the edge.
The Commanders are clearly betting that his next chapter comes with a bigger role and a bigger impact in 2026. Owehs background already hints at why the organization is intrigued, from a late switch to football in high school to a career that has steadily moved him into more prominent spots. Washington does not need him to be just another piece on the roster, either. It is expecting him to become a meaningful part of the defensive backbone, even if the exact shape of that contribution is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Shuffle O-Line Again As Camp Competition Takes Another Turn
The Commanders kept their camp roster moving again this week, a reminder that the offensive line picture is still being sorted out as training camp unfolds. After releasing Tyler Cooper to make room for Stefon Diggs, Washington is also working through depth concerns up front while trying to keep the competition at center and along the interior from stalling.
One familiar veteran has now surfaced in the mix, giving the Commanders another experienced option to evaluate as they navigate Nick Allegrettis calf issue and the rest of the summer grind. For a team that has already been shuffling bodies to stay flexible, adding a player with NFL starts and stops across multiple stops is the kind of low-drama move that can matter once the pads come on and the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Get A Big Secondary Boost With One Question Still Looming
The Commanders got a welcome midcamp lift with Trey Amos back on the practice field, as the second-year corner was cleared to return after spending the offseason on the physically unable to perform list. Washington also activated edge rusher Dorance Armstrong and punter Tress Way, giving Dan Quinn a little more room to work as the roster starts to take shape and the team continues its ramp-up toward the season.
Armstrong is expected to be eased back in with lighter practice work, which keeps the focus on how quickly the group can get all three players fully integrated. For Washington, the secondary boost from Amos matters, but the bigger picture is whether the team can restore depth and rhythm across multiple spots without rushing anyone along too soon. [Read more 🡒]