Everything you need to know about the Commanders (if you need a reset after last season)

It’s been a long offseason in D.C, and you’d be forgiven if you checked out from the Commanders for a little bit.

After last year’s 5-12 debacle, a mental reset was much needed. If you missed it, here’s a quick recap of the last nine months: The team fired its defensive coordinator and let go of its offensive coordinator, and franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels hasn’t played a meaningful snap since early December.

So, yeah, safe to say the shine of the 2024 run to the NFC championship game has worn off.

All of a sudden, 2026 has become a prove-it year for head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. And it hasn’t gotten off to a great start (more on that later).

So, if you made the smart move and tuned out, we’ll catch you up before Washington opens against Philadelphia on Sunday. Let this be your quick guide to the Commanders’ season.

Getting the basics out of the way: Where can I find the game Sunday?

For better or worse, Washington’s season starts in the spotlight. The Commanders have the game of the week on Fox at 4:25 p.m. It will be an early indication of what’s in store over the next five months. A division game on the road, there’ll be no hiding the Commanders’ deficiencies.

When I flip on the game, will Daniels be playing? Is he finally ready?

The short answer is yes. Daniels is good to go after a long offseason of rehab. But it’s understandable to ask.

The last time Washington saw Daniels in a meaningful football game, he was reeling in pain after reinjuring his dislocated elbow in Minnesota. He missed over half the season in 2025 with knee, hamstring and elbow injuries. There was so much anticipation to see how Daniels would follow his NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year award. But we never got an encore performance.

Even if Daniels is back, though, there is plenty of concern around his protection. The offensive line is missing Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and the center position is up in the air (at best). Washington lost its last franchise star, Robert Griffin III, to injury. It is trying to avoid the same fate with Daniels.

About those injuries, why is Washington so hurt … again?

The Commanders haven’t even played a real game, and their injury list is over 10 players deep. It’s not quite San Francisco 49ers levels, but it is up there.

There are big names on the shelf. Pass rusher Odafe Oweh, who signed a $100 million deal this offseason, has been out for weeks. K’Lavon Chaisson, another edge rusher, is missing. Starting corner Trey Amos is out. And starting center Nick Allegretti just returned after missing most of training camp.

Tunsil and defensive lineman Johnny Newton will miss most, if not all, of the season.

Quinn said the Commanders structured training camp specifically to avoid the injury bug that killed last season. But it didn’t work.

“It’s part of it,” Quinn said.

Washington fans might be thinking, “Here we go again.”

Speaking of Oweh, has anything changed for him since playing in Baltimore?

People around here know the Commanders’ marquee offseason signing well. Oweh was drafted by the Ravens and played 67 games over 4 1/2 seasons in Baltimore before getting traded last year. The reviews were mixed in Maryland. He had a breakout year in his second season but never quite lived up to expectations.

He spent the back half of last year with the Los Angeles Chargers, and his stats ticked up. He said he wasn’t allowed to play freely with the Ravens. With a new scheme, we’ll see if he can become the premier pass rusher Baltimore always wanted.

We know the offensive line is hurt, but didn’t Washington help Daniels a little?

It did, in a splashy way. Peters brought in a star receiver whom teams around here have long been chasing.

Stefon Diggs, the Maryland native, signed in the middle of training camp. He immediately became the No. 2 option for Daniels behind Terry McLaurin. All of a sudden, the wide receiver position isn’t looking so bad.

We know about McLaurin and Diggs, but are there new faces to catch passes?

Washington’s wide receiver room is almost entirely new, and there will be plenty of fans checking the roster to figure out who is who.

Let’s start with Treylon Burks, a former first-round pick who is trying to revive his career. His size makes him a significant red-zone threat. After that, Dyami Brown is back in D.C. after spending last year in Jacksonville. He was a big part of Washington’s playoff run in 2024.

But the real wild card of this group is Luke McCaffrey. A former draft pick in Washington, he’s mostly been a special teams player. But he wants more of a role in this offense, particularly in the slot. He had a strong start to training camp and tapered off. But, if you were going to take a flyer on a guy down in the depth chart to make an impact, it might be him.

Are there rookies to be aware of?

The obvious answer is Sonny Styles, the seventh overall draft pick. Styles is an off-ball linebacker, so he isn’t the flashiest player. He is already catching grief online for not having many big plays in the preseason. But that isn’t his game.

If you want a rookie to pop, though, it could be wide receiver Antonio Williams. The third-round pick out of Clemson had a strong end to training camp. He is a smooth route runner with a polished game. Is he ready for the physicality of the NFL? That is up for debate. But Washington says he can help right away in Philadelphia.

Quinn purged the coordinators from last year, so what’s up with the new guys?

Washington’s very famous, very accomplished, offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, is no longer with the franchise. Neither is defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.

In their places, Washington hired two first-time NFL coordinators in David Blough (offense) and Daronte Jones (defense). Jones is a journeyman who has coached over 20 teams from high school to the NFL. Blough is younger, just three years removed from being a backup quarterback for the Detroit Lions.

Washington wants to be more play action and run heavy than in years past, hoping to protect Daniels. And the defense wants to be more aggressive in the pass rush. Think Brian Flores’ unit in Minnesota.

What is the reason for optimism in D.C.?

Listen, between the injuries on the offensive line and so many new faces, there is a ton of concern in the fanbase. It’s understandable.

But here is the glass-half-full point of view. Daniels seems comfortable in this new offense and, in theory, he will take fewer hits to stay healthy. With a top-flight quarterback in the NFL, anything can happen. Just look at what Daniels did in 2024, taking the Commanders one win from the Super Bowl.

Washington is much younger and more athletic than last year. And, with McLaurin and Diggs, it has proven playmakers.

Will any of it matter if the offensive line can’t hold up and the defense is hurt? No. But, if they can, Washington could contend for the playoffs.

What happens if it all goes poorly?

There is no getting around the fact that it’s a critical year for the franchise. Daniels is going into the third year of his rookie deal and will be eligible for a new contract after this season. This is theoretically the easiest time to build around a star player, when he is still cheap on a rookie contract.

Plus, this is Year 3 for Quinn and Peters. Quinn got rid of both coordinators last year, not a great sign. And he made a risky move to hire two untested play-callers. If this goes badly, his seat will get warm.

We can’t end on a sour note. What would constitute a good season?

Getting back to the playoffs would be a success. Whenever you have a top-tier quarterback, making the playoffs has to be the standard. Plus, Washington set the bar high when Daniels went to the NFC championship game in his rookie year.

Admittedly, this schedule is brutal. Washington starts with two division games on the road and opens at home against the defending Super Bowl champs. But, if it can weather the storm early, the schedule lightens up in the second half of the year. Sneak in as a wild-card team and Commanders fans would be excited.