***OFFICIAL*** Washington Commanders Thread (4 Viewers)

[fatness]

Commanders camp just started but rising star is already shining in familiar spot

Joe Whitt Jr. is demanding more from his cornerback unit this season. Second-year general manager Adam Peters has improved the playing personnel available, spending a second-round pick on Trey Amos and also signing two-time Super Bowl winner Jonathan Jones in free agency. Noah Igbinoghene got another one-year deal from the franchise after impressing last time around. Four-time Pro Bowl corner Marshon Lattimore also looks healthy, refocused, and explosive after finally ridding himself of the hamstring complication that blighted the early returns of his trade. That is a game-changer in no uncertain terms. Mike Sainristil is already thriving in the nickel at Commanders training camp. Then, there's Mike Sainristil. The 2024 second-round pick thrived as a rookie, proving no moment was too big en route to becoming a key part of the team's plans. His competitiveness, composure on the biggest stages, and relentless work ethic defied his status as the No. 50 pick. It's early days, but the Commanders already have a huge steal on their hands.

Thanks to the additions made this offseason, the Commanders are moving Sainristil back to the position where he starred in college. Whitt had to move him to the boundary last season after the likes of Benjamin St-Juste, Michael Davis, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. began to struggle. He took on the challenge and excelled, but his skills are much better suited to the nickel.

 

[fatness]

One step at a time.
Terry McLaurin reports to training camp, not practicing yet with ankle injury

“Terry McLaurin has reported and we’re very happy about that,” Quinn said. “He’ll start training camp on PUP for his ankle. On the business side, [Commanders General Manager Adam Peters] and his side are still working very hard with Terry and his reps on the business side of things. While on PUP he’ll be working with the trainers.”

 

[fatness]

Santana Moss is being inducted into the Ring of Fame

The team announced that they will be inducting wide receiver Santana Moss into the group during their Week 1 game against the Giants. Moss will be the 52nd person to join the club. Moss began his NFL career as a Jets first-round pick in 2001 and he moved on to Washington in a 2005 trade that sent wideout Laveranues Coles to New Jersey. Moss spent 10 seasons with the club and picked up 581 catches for 7,867 yards and 47 touchdowns. Moss ranks third in franchise history behind Art Monk and Charley Taylor in catches and fourth behind those two players and Gary Clark in receiving yards. He will join all three of those players as members of the team’s Ring of Fame.

 

[fatness]

Terry McLaurin: It’s a business, but I never lost sight of the way the fans supported me

Terry McLaurin ended his holdout today and reported to training camp. He was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List for an ankle injury, and will likely remain there until he gets a new contract. He was signing autographs after practice and he briefly spoke to reporters on his way back into team headquarters. Terry acknowledged the fans, and said even though he’s dealing with the business side of the game, he never lost sight of how much support he’s gotten from the fans. He said he tries to give back, not just on the field, but off it as well.

Terry McLaurin signed autographs and took pictures with every kid in this area of the facility for nearly 45 minutes. One little kid asked, “They pay you yet, Terry?”

 

[fatness]

Jayden Daniels just threw a dime to the corner of the end zone with :05 seconds left in a situation they were down 6. From around the 25. Jaylin Lane with a terrific catch and tapped feet in. Over 3 DBs including Sainristil. Throw was perfect.

Video

He just makes those throws look so easy. I watch them and feel like that little kid under anesthesia on his way back from the dentist. "Is this real life?"

 

[fatness]

Lynnell Willingham
@Nell_BTP
Jean-Baptiste vs Josh Conerly is going to be fun to watch
Both just took turns whipping each other

Another Sainristil INT.
another video

Fans

Fans booing Jason Garrett

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Terry McLaurin signed autographs and took pictures with every kid in this area of the facility for nearly 45 minutes. One little kid asked, “They pay you yet, Terry?”

People love spending other people's money. Ask that kid's parents if they want to contribute $20K to the contract.

The business end of it is Terry is under contract and is holding out because his guaranteed $s are no longer relevant in that contract, and to get paid for 3-4 more years. He is the business end of the issue. Not the team. only question left is if the team finds it in its best interests to lock him up for 3 more years. It's not the easy decision fans are making it out to be.

ETA: I think it gets done during pre-season because it's in both sides best interests. McLauren is valuable to JD5. WAS can't really get a guy right now to replace him. But McLauren is not as valuable to other teams, nor does he have leverage here. If he sits out the year, he loses a year of service. And gets a year older. If he plays under his current deal he risks injury and nothing next year. Peters has said he doesn't like the franchise tag, so that puts McLauren open market in 2026. That's risky to McLauren, not the team. It's in all their interests to sign for like $31M per for 3 years, but McLauren is gonna have to talk himself down to get there. Peters also came from NE's original philosophy in the 2000s ... happy to let a player go if they are a problem. And was there when they had Moss, then let him go (Peters left the year prior). He is definitely in the QB is what really matters camp.

 

[fatness]

McLauren is valuable to JD5.

And was there when they had Moss, then let him go (Peters left the year prior). He is definitely in the QB is what really matters camp.

That's a pretty strong argument for re-signing McLaurin.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Public hearing on the stadium deal. Live right now.

There will be over 500 speakers so its gonna be boring and likely a few nutjobs.




I think "we" have it in the bag but you never know. Feels pretty rushed.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Terry McLaurin signed autographs and took pictures with every kid in this area of the facility for nearly 45 minutes. One little kid asked, “They pay you yet, Terry?”

People love spending other people's money. Ask that kid's parents if they want to contribute $20K to the contract.

The business end of it is Terry is under contract and is holding out because his guaranteed $s are no longer relevant in that contract, and to get paid for 3-4 more years. He is the business end of the issue. Not the team. only question left is if the team finds it in its best interests to lock him up for 3 more years. It's not the easy decision fans are making it out to be.

ETA: I think it gets done during pre-season because it's in both sides best interests. McLauren is valuable to JD5. WAS can't really get a guy right now to replace him. But McLauren is not as valuable to other teams, nor does he have leverage here. If he sits out the year, he loses a year of service. And gets a year older. If he plays under his current deal he risks injury and nothing next year. Peters has said he doesn't like the franchise tag, so that puts McLauren open market in 2026. That's risky to McLauren, not the team. It's in all their interests to sign for like $31M per for 3 years, but McLauren is gonna have to talk himself down to get there. Peters also came from NE's original philosophy in the 2000s ... happy to let a player go if they are a problem. And was there when they had Moss, then let him go (Peters left the year prior). He is definitely in the QB is what really matters camp.

Scratches head. Tickets, concessions, parking, streaming services, apparel. The fans do pay the players salaries.

 

[fatness]

Backup offensive lineman Nate Herbig suddenly retired: https://riggosrag.com/shock-retirement-hits-commanders-raises-serious-depth-questions

The Washington Commanders gave Nate Herbig a chance to resurrect his career this offseason. But unfortunately for the offensive lineman, there was no longer the motivation needed to compete. Head coach Dan Quinn announced before Tuesday's camp practice that the Commanders had placed Herbig on the reserve/retired list, abruptly ending his comeback story. The former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator acknowledged that the versatile interior presence had been a good teammate during his short time with the franchise, and everyone wishes him well with his future endeavors.

This represents a slight blow to the Commanders. Herbig was expected to fill the backup role behind starting center Tyler Biadasz if everything went well. He can also provide relief at the guard positions, especially considering Sam Cosmi is currently out as he recovers from a torn ACL. Now, those in power must pivot accordingly. Washington still has players like Chris Paul, Michael Deiter, and Julian Good-Jones to pick up the slack. But it's not hard to see where the problems could arise if the Commanders suffer another injury along the interior.

 

[fatness]

Lynnell Willingham has gotten to be a good beat reporter. I think he's 27.


Lynnell Willingham
@Nell_BTP

MY TOP OBSERVATIONS FROM THE #Commanders 2ND FULL PADDED PRACTICE OF TRAINING CAMP
Today’s standouts:
•Jaylin Lane
•Javon Kinlaw
•Bill
•Tyler Owens
•Zach Ertz
•Noah I
•Run game/O-Line
•Jacob Martin

(Bill = Jacory Croskey-Merritt)
(Noah I = Noah Igbinoghene)

 

[fatness]

Jordan Schultz @Schultz_Report
BREAKING: #Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin has requested a trade, multiple sources tell me.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Two steps forward, 1 step back. SMH.

I HATE what they have done with their receiving corp.

 

[(HULK)]

Commanders' free-agent gamble showed up to camp looking like a different player

Washington released Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jonathan Allen this offseason when no willing trade suitor came forward. This was an inevitable outcome, but Peters had a contingency plan ready to go immediately. That was Javon Kinlaw. The Commanders gave the free-agent lineman a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. This was instantly blasted as an overpay by analysts and fans, which only motivated the former first-round pick further in the weeks leading into training camp.
Javon Kinlaw looks lean and explosive over the early stages of Commanders training camp

And he showed up at Ashburn looking like a different player.It's not hard to miss Kinlaw. He's 6-foot-5 with a muscular, large frame that represents an imposing figure. But the South Carolina product looked much leaner than his documented 319-pound weight suggests. There's no way Kinlaw is that now. He's been working exceptionally hard away from the team, and it shows. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft looked explosive during drills, and there's a renewed focus to his approach that bodes well for his chances in Washington.

If Kinlaw is actually a good signing then this front office is crushing it.

With one exception. #payTerry

 

[fatness]

Training camp notebook | 'Leader is developing' in Mike Sainristil

Jayden Daniels was looking to start practice on a positive note, so he rolled to his right, spotted Jaylin Lane downfield and fired a pass towards the rookie. It was a nice throw, and under normal circumstances, it would have been a completion. Second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil had other plans, though, and he made a leaping one-handed catch to secure the ball before Lane could get his hands on it.

Plays like that have become a regular occurrence for Sainristil, who has moved back to being a nickel corner with rookie Trey Amos on the field. He was one of the Commanders' best defensive players last season, and with a full year in the system, his coaches are starting to see him take another step, both on and off the field. "The leader is developing and emerging," head coach Dan Quinn said during his Thursday press conference. "To me, that's the next step for him. The other players believe in him."

He has also managed to stop Deebo Samuel short of the goal line on several plays by either forcing a pass breakup or recording a tackle.

 

[fatness]

D.C. Council advances Commanders stadium deal

On Friday, D.C. Council voted to advance the Commanders stadium deal to a second reading, followed by a vote. The vote is set for September 17. If it passes, the stadium moves to Mayor Muriel Bowser for final approval. Which she will give, given that she did the deal in the first place. The fact that D.C. Council voted in favor of the measure today is being regarded as a victory, by among others Mayor Bowser. The goal is to get the stadium built and opened by 2030. Bowser has said that the new stadium will be a “lock” for the hosting of a Super Bowl.

 

[fatness]

First "unofficial" depth chart from the team: https://www.commanders.com/news/commanders-release-2025-unofficial-depth-chart

 

[fatness]

Lots of individual blurbs about today's joint practice with the Patriots.
https://www.hogshaven.com/2025-wash...-camp-day-11-joint-practice-with-the-patriots

Apparently Lattimore got in a fight with a Patriot, and while trying to break it up Mike Vrabel got bloody. Good look for a first-year HC.

Zach Selby
@ZachSelbyWC
First 11-on-11 period for the offense: JD5 was 3 of 3 with two completions to Ertz

Zach Selby
@ZachSelbyWC
Two things have stood out to me watching the offense:- the connection between Daniels and Ertz is a cheat code- Tunsil is really, really, really good

Zack Cox
@zm_cox
First play of joint practice: DeMario Douglas beats Jonathan Jones on a crosser from Drake Maye.

Zach Selby
@ZachSelbyWC
BRob is fired up today. He had a couple of really nice runs and has been trying to get his teammates hyped up in the huddle

Mitchell Tischler
@Mitch_Tischler
Josh Conerly is having a good practice today, working across from Christian Barmore and Harold Landry he’s shown quickness and good recognition getting to free blitzers

Mitchell Tischler
@Mitch_Tischler
Demario Douglas had two nice catch and runs in 11’s against Mikey Sainristil

David Harrison
@DHarrison82
Demario Douglas having a day against the Commanders defense. Has beaten Mike Sainristil on several routes.

Watching Tunsil in pass pro is such a work of art. He just put Keion White into the ground with little effort
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) August 6, 2025​

 

[fatness]

Lake Lewis Jr
@LakeLewisJr
I have to let DC know that Laremy Tunsil is up here at joint practices mandhandling folks. He’s a stone wall. The youngster Josh Conerly Jr is having a day as well.

 

[fatness]

Zack Cox
@zm_cox
Drake Maye went 9-for-12 during the first round of 11s. Completions to Douglas, Henry, Hollins and Hooper, plus a screen to Henderson. Joshua Dobbs was 13-for-15. Lot of separation by the Pats’ pass-catchers vs. Washington’s DBs.

 

[fatness]

John Keim
@john_keim
Mike Sainristil with an INT in the end zone after Wagner tipped the ball

 

[fatness]

Redskin WR's other than Samuel did nothing against the Patriots yesterday.
article archived: https://archive.ph/APLqA

Terry McLaurin’s absence was a blinking neon sign. Since the wide receiver began his contract standoff with the Commanders, it often has been repeated that he has little to no leverage. That’s true from a business perspective, for all the reasons that also have been frequently repeated: The Commanders could use the franchise tag on him next year; he would be entering free agency entering his age-31 season; he needs to play to be eligible for either outcome.

On the field, though, Wednesday’s practice provided a reminder that the Commanders need McLaurin as much as he needs a new contract. Other than Deebo Samuel, Washington’s wideouts were smothered by Patriots defensive backs with both first-team units on the field. Quarterback Jayden Daniels relied heavily on tight end Zach Ertz and threw scant completions, if any, to anyone other than Ertz, Samuel and running back Austin Ekeler.

 

[fatness]

5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' fiery joint practice with Patriots

Winners
Josh Conerly
Zach Ertz
Trey Amos
Jaden Daniels
Leremy Tunsil

Losers
Commanders WR's not named Samuels
Johnathan Jones

 

[Harjiran]

Thanks for all the updates, @fatness - it's such a nice feeling, caring about this team again.

 

[fatness]

Well it looks like the backups crapped the bed against the Patriots. Read this if you want to get angry: https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl...on-opener-commanders-tom-brady-statue/724425/

Final score: Patriots 48, Commanders 18

A preseason game may not mean anything in the long run. But after a long, hot summer of training camp practices, a blowout victory can feel awfully nice for the players on the field and the coaches on the sideline. And in this one for the Patriots, there was plenty to like, as they dominated from the opening kick to the final whistle. TreVeyon Henderson returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown set the tone,

 

[fatness]

But it sounds like Johnny Newton did pretty well. Nice to see a sack by a DT.

Former Illini Jer'Zhan Newton Shines in Washington Commanders' Preseason Opener

Former Illinois defensive lineman Newton recorded three tackles and a sack against the New England Patriots on Friday

www.si.com

Jer'Zhan Newton had a strong rookie campaign last year after the Washington Commanders selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. On Saturday, the former Illinois defensive lineman made an immediate impact in 2025 in the Commanders' preseason opener against the New England Patriots with three total tackles, a stuff, a sack and a forced fumble.

 

[(HULK)]

To be fair, the Pats ran their 1s against our 2s, and their 2s against our 3s.

But it was brutal.

 

[ffmail4me]

Long time Redskins fans know this, but we went winless in the preseason in 2 if not all 3 of our SB years. Good omen

 

[fatness]

Dan Quinn was very unhappy with all 3 units after the Patriots game. I won't quote it all, but it's a lot: https://www.hogshaven.com/pressers/...ave-high-standards-and-we-missed-them-tonight

and
https://www.hogshaven.com/daily-slop/225086/daily-slop-9-aug-25

 

[fatness]

JP Finlay
@JPFinlayNBCS
Luke McCaffrey had a pregame illness and tried to play but couldn’t. Dan Quinn says more injury updates Sunday

What's up with McCaffrey anyway? He's had an illness for several days now.

Nicki Jhabvala
@NickiJhabvala
Dan Quinn: "All three phases I thought it was sloppy tonight. We had [13] penalties. ... They stacked and that showed sloppiness to me — and the practice was just the opposite. You know how I feel about penalties, so that did not make me happy."

https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala?r...ave-high-standards-and-we-missed-them-tonight

Nicki Jhabvala
@NickiJhabvala
https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala?r...ave-high-standards-and-we-missed-them-tonight

Dan Quinn: “If you get your *** kicked and we’re in the fight the whole time, I can live with that. … I can live almost with any result when you put it all in and do it right, but when it’s sloppy and not to the standards, man, that burns my ***.”

https://twitter.com/JPFinlayNBCS?re...ave-high-standards-and-we-missed-them-tonight

JP Finlay
@JPFinlayNBCS
Dan Quinn says Washington has high standards and didn’t hit them tonight in any phase. Did highlight Conerly Amos and Newton though

Ben Standig
@BenStandig

Dan Quinn highlighted performances by Trey Amos, Josh Conerly and Johnny Newton.Otherwise, yeah, not ideal, especially 13 penalties. "In all three phases, it was sloppy tonight."

Ben Standig
@BenStandig

Dan Quinn to reporters on Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt:"I like the skills we’re seeing from Bill. I’m encouraged … He makes plays, he’s got quickness. I loved the ball security he had tonight. … He was really ready to compete.”

 

[fatness]

Grant Paulsen
@granthpaulsen

Five Commanders' first-half standouts:
Croskey-Merritt: 8 touches for 32 yards. Made strong cuts; looked comfortable catching ball.
Amos: Tight coveage the one time he was targeted and made a play in run game as well.
Reaves: Playing fast, most physical player on the field.
Igbinoghene: Nice job in coverage. Draped over receiver on two occasions.
Tay Martin: 3 catches for 36 yards. Got open and made sure-handed catches.

 

[fatness]

Commanders lose OT Lucas Niang to a torn ACL

The Commanders’ offensive line depth has taken a hit. Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters at a Sunday press conference that tackle Lucas Niang tore his ACL. Niang will miss the entire season as a result of the injury. Niang signed with Washington this offseason. He was a 2020 Chiefs third-round pick and he played 33 regular season games for the team. Niang started nine of those contests, but none since the 2021 season.

 

[fatness]

Commanders sign CB Essang Bassey, LB Duke Riley, CB Antonio Hamilton

2 CB's and an LB.

 

[fatness]

Washington Commanders make 8 roster moves after preseason opener

The Washington Commanders signed three players today, and all three of them were at yesterday’s tryouts. LB Duke Riley and CB Essang Bassey were reported yesterday, and CB Antonio Hamilton Sr. joins them as new additions to the defense/special teams. Washington also released three players(DE Viliami Fehoko Jr, CB Allan George, LB Dominique Hampton). Fehoko Jr was injured on Friday night. Dom Hampton was a 5th round pick last year that was only active for one game, but looked lost on the field vs the Patriots.
The Commanders also placed two players on injured reserve. CB Kevon Seymour didn’t make the trip to New England and was one of seven players dealing with an injury. OT Lucas Niang was signed less than two weeks ago, but tore his ACL and is done for the year.

Peters cut his 5th round pick from last year.

 

[fatness]

Commanders sign WR River Cracraft, DB Daryl Worley

The team announced the signings of wide receiver River Cracraft and defensive back Daryl Worley to their 90-man roster. They waived wide receiver Michael Strachan.

Cracraft has appeared in 53 games for three teams over the last seven seasons. He spent the last three years with the Dolphins and had 25 catches for 289 yards and three touchdowns for the AFC East club. Worley had 52 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble in nine games for the Titans last season. He has also played for the Ravens, Lions, Raiders, Bills, Cowboys, and Panthers over the course of his career.

 

[fatness]

Report: Commanders work out OT Cam Fleming

Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Washington worked out offensive tackle Cam Fleming on Thursday. Fleming, 32, spent the last four seasons with the Broncos. He started 15 games in 2022, but played only seven games with one start over the last two seasons. A New England fourth-round pick in 2014, Fleming has appeared in 118 games with 62 starts for the Patriots, Cowboys, Giants, and Broncos. Garafolo also notes that the Chargers recently worked out Fleming.

 

[fatness]

Ravens, Commanders cancel joint practice scheduled for next week

“Recognizing the logistical challenges — with our teams’ previous games scheduled on different days — and the added strain on players heading into a short week, the Ravens and Commanders mutually agreed to no longer hold a joint practice next week,” the Ravens said in a statement. “Instead, we will concentrate on preparing for our upcoming preseason matchup.”

The Ravens are set to play the Cowboys on Saturday evening while the Commanders won’t play the Bengals until Monday night in the second week of preseason play. Baltimore and Washington will play one another on Saturday, Aug. 23.

 

[fatness]

Brandon Scherff apparently has retired.

Five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff has apparently retired

Longtime NFL guard Brandon Scherff became a free agent in March, but there was no news of him talking to any NFL teams, and he has apparently decided to call it a career.

www.nbcsports.com

2025 Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame Spotlight: Brandon Scherff

hawkeyesports.com

Scherff was the No. 5 overall pick by Washington in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was an All-Pro selection in 2020 and played in five Pro Bowls. He played in Washington from 2015-21, then played for Jacksonville from 2022 through last season. “It’s been something I could never dream of,” says Scherff, who retired from playing this summer.

 

[fatness]

Things are getting grouchy in the McLaurin standoff.

Kliff Kingsbury on Terry McLaurin: We're at the point where we need on-field work

McLaurin has not practiced at all since reporting to camp late amid a contract impasse.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[fatness]

Five roster bubble players for the Commanders who must make a strong impression in the second preseason game against the Bengals
CB Car’lin Vigers
WR Chris Moore
QB Sam Hartman
OT Foster Sarell
LB Duke Riley

 

[fatness]

Report: Terry McLaurin remains 'dug in, frustrated' with the Commanders

"From what I'm hearing, there's still a pretty sizable gap in how they see the wide receiver market," Fowler said. "Washington's down here, Terry McLaurin's pretty high up here. I'm told the player is dug in, remains frustrated, not a lot of traction on a trade right now, even though I do know there are some teams that are interested, or have at least called. But right now, I'm told Washington does remain optimistic in this despite some of the smoke around all of the issues, and him still out of practice. They feel like, when push comes to shove, closer to Week 1, they can reach some sort of compromise. It's probably not going to be a situation where he plays out the year on his contract and plays on the franchise tag next year. Like, he needs some sort of contract. They are hoping they can find a sweet spot here, but they're sort of waiting each other out, and meanwhile, this could get ugly."

 

[fatness]

Jeremy Reaves

When Whitt was asked about safety, Jeremy Reaves, he didn't hesitate, “Yeah, he's earned the right now to be that third safety type of player where you'll see him in there more. He's such a special-teams ace that it's hard to just play him full-time on defense because he's so important to special teams. But he just keeps making plays, making plays. So, we're going to find plays for him on defense, and he's earned that. He's always around the ball, his physicality is unmatched. And so, I've been very pleased with what he's done this camp.”

 

[fatness]

In the Bengals game there were 6 total receptions by WR's.
https://www.nfl.com/games/bengals-at-commanders-2025-pre-2?active-tab=stats

Jaylin Lane and Bill Croskey-Merritt are the real deal.

First string O and D looked OK, but after that there's a shortage of non-embarrassing depth.

 

[fatness]

Studs & Duds in the Bengals game

Studs
Jayden Daniels
Bill Croskey-Merritt
Chris Rodriguez
Jaylin Lane
Colson Yankoff
Javon Kinlaw

Duds
Sam Hartman
Bobby Price
Car’Lin Vigers

Odds and ends

• Noah I did get flagged for a pass interference down inside the red zone, however he showed very well tackling, looking more like a linebacker than a defensive back.
• Both Ben Sinnott and Luke McCaffrey did nothing special to separate themselves

• I know it’s just preseason, but Frankie Luvu needs to be more disciplined. He jumped offsides on a 4th and three to give the Bengals a first down. It was pretty clear Burrow wasn’t going to snap the ball.

Regardless of the score, it was important for some key guys to get in some live action in this contest and for the most part, they didn’t disappoint. However, with Sam Hartman and Josh Johnson under center, with third and fourth stringers along the offensive line, things got a bit sloppy on offense.
Defense was pretty much the same. The first two groups showed pretty well against Joe Burrow, however our backup got carved up by Jake Browning.
Overall, I think Washington put enough on film to glean some good evaluation by the coaches. One position where it was hard to see anything positive was from our bottom-of-the-roster wide receivers who suffered from poor quarterback play most of the evening.

 

[fatness]

If Brian Robinson is traded I think we're fine with Ekeler, Rodriguez, McNichols, and Bill. The O-line will determine how good our running game will be.

 

[fatness]

One thing I saw: Spinner handoffs. A favorite of the Dolphins and Packers last season, spinner plays feature the quarterback handing the ball off from the gun while spinning in the backfield. Borrowed from single-wing and wing-T offenses, the spin allows the quarterback to bluff one handoff but execute another and can disorient opposing linebackers when dressed with more backfield eye candy. Here's an example for the visual learners.

The Commanders want to have as disorienting a running game as possible. Without an elite back in the backfield, yet with a couple of tricky, movable players in WR Deebo Samuel and RB Austin Ekeler, they will benefit from a nontraditional handoff game that makes their jet motions and screens all the more dangerous. The most important part: having a quarterback who is also unlocked by read options and shifting backfields. With his smooth ballhandling and impossible quickness, Jayden Daniels is going to shine even brighter with these nifty backfield shenanigans forcing hesitations from unblocked defenders.

example: https://x.com/CoachDanCasey/status/1861110385945760167

 

[fatness]

The run game will survive without Brian Robinson Jr. It's not as if Robinson has been an NFL standout, but he has been Washington's starting back the past three seasons. His Commanders' future is in serious doubt in part because of the depth and versatility displayed in the first two series' Monday night.

Early in the game, Washington's first run game looked excellent, hurting the Bengals in a variety of ways. Deebo Samuel gained 19 yards on a jet sweep; Chris Rodriguez Jr. squeezed through the middle for a 40-yard run; Jayden Daniels scored on a 14-yard run and Jacory Croskey-Merritt dashed for a 27-yard score. The line was excellent -- rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and tight end John Bates, among others, threw key blocks. The pass game will remain a question mark until they get Terry McLaurin back on the field, but the run game was sharp. It's a start. -- John Keim

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45990256/2025-nfl-preseason-week-2-takeaways-analysis

 

[fatness]

Commanders sign OT George Fant who tried out last week. It's basically a week for him to show if he's got anything left or not.
https://www.hogshaven.com/washingto...agency-veteran-ot-george-fant-signed#comments

The Washington Commanders brought in several players for tryouts last week, including veteran OT George Fant. The visit went well, and the two sides reportedly stayed in contact. Fant has now reportedly agreed to terms on a free agent deal. Fant(6’5”, 315 lbs, 33 yo) has been in the NFL since the Seattle Seahawks signed him as an UDFA after the 2016 NFL draft. He joins an offensive line that continues to upgrade to protect second-year franchise QB Jayden Daniels. Laremy Tunsil is the LT after Washington traded for him, and they also drafted Josh Conerly Jr in the 1st round this year to move him to RT. Fant will get a week to show coaches what he’s still got before cutdown day on August 26th at 4 p.m. ET.

 

[fatness]

Commanders defense front once again caught the attention of fans for the right reasons

The Washington Commanders fell to their second straight preseason loss, emerging defeated from their Monday Night Football encounter with the Cincinnati Bengals. However, there were some notable positives to take from the clash. While the running back dynamic took center stage as trade rumors swirled around previous starting option Brian Robinson Jr., the biggest win from an otherwise underwhelming evening at Northwest Stadium was painfully obvious.

Much was made throughout the offseason about the Commanders' concerns along their defensive front. Fans were worried that general manager Adam Peters didn't do enough to fortify the ranks, especially after releasing veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and losing 10.5-sack edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. It's been a small sample size to date, but the signs are extremely encouraging.

The Bengals' offensive line cannot be classed as stellar by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, the pressure and overall havoc created by Washington's front four from the moment they got onto the field was eye-catching. Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw set the tone as the line's anchors. Dorance Armstrong Jr. flashed on the edge and as a 3-technique on the interior, which was an intriguing package showcased over the early stages of training camp to full effect. Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow got the football out quickly more often than not, but it was refreshing to see the Commanders generate push consistently.

As the contest wore on, it was getting harder to ignore Jacob Martin. The free-agent signing looked explosive, getting off the snap quickly and giving the Bengals' protection all they could handle. His three quarterback hits, 0.5 sacks, and one tackle were a testament to his ability to make every rep count.