2026 Commanders Training Camp

[DWinzit]

Seems to be mixed opinions on Sainristil at camp. Mitch Tischler, when talking on the corner backs said ‘Mikey is still the best’. Didn’t elaborate any further so perhaps he just has a crush. Don’t know much about the guy but he’s been at camp everyday and he gave a good summary of camp week 1 on the Trap or Dive podcast. There was also a clip of 1 on 1’s with receivers. It featured Mikey 4 times. On 1 Terry beats him pretty easily. On the other 3 he was competitive including a pbu on one of them. Not bad on a drill that heavily favours the WRs. Matt Bullock was also impressed on this sequence. So there’s also some good there too

It's good to hear positives on Mikey! You are correct, there have been very mixed reviews on him, many not so positive. We need him to play well!

 

[Hailer]

Positive TC buzz goes in one ear and out the other for me now. The final nail in the coffin was Trey Quinn - the beat were losing their minds over his route running in August. I’m not sure he ever caught a ball in the regular season.

BUT I do put stock in the negative buzz. If a position group or player is consistently portrayed in a negative light during TC that tends to show up in season.

100% positive = yawn
50/50 = whatever
100% negative = ohhh boy

 

[burgold]

Random Burgold morning thought:

What if the Diggs signing was not an acknowledgement that the team needed a better number 2 wide receiver, but a reaction to how well the coaches and front office thinks the team is doing this preseason? Maybe they came together and decided they might really have something again and need that get-us-over-the-top piece? What if the main reason they executed the signing is that they really believe in what they have?

 

[skinsinparadise]

Who are "all those"? SIP, Conn, Kdawg, Boone, me... I can't think of anyone else who got people annoyed with how often we posted about it? None of us are complaining. I'm curious now, who feels different now?

Yeah I am elated. Anyone who recalls my posting history at ES, I am much closer to being a homer than a hater -- aside from what I felt about Bruce-Dan. But generally, I am much more likely to drink the Kool Aide than not.

I think them signing Diggs is a game changer. That was such a big hole on the roster IMO. Fixing that changes in my book the dyanmic of the season. Rouhier below sums it well for me albiet I am more optimistic than his projections.

I think those that have done a shift are some of the local reporters -- some of the same ones who defended the previous configuration of WRs who thought fans were overreacting -- some of those same ones are now saying hey that's a big move and was needed. The one who has stuck to his point has been Bram, he was sold on the previous group so doesn't seem to think its as big a needle move as some others.

But to me Diggs is a big time needle mover.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

Random Burgold morning thought:

What if the Diggs signing was not an acknowledgement that the team needed a better number 2 wide receiver, but a reaction to how well the coaches and front office thinks the team is doing this preseason? Maybe they came together and decided they might really have something again and need that get-us-over-the-top piece? What if the main reason they executed the signing is that they really believe in what they have?

I've had the same thought.

They might be really happy with what they are seeing in camp and want to go for it this year.

Diggs on a one year deal gives them that added piece that might put this offense over the top.

Of course, that is just speculation.

 

[Boone]

Random Burgold morning thought:

What if the Diggs signing was not an acknowledgement that the team needed a better number 2 wide receiver, but a reaction to how well the coaches and front office thinks the team is doing this preseason? Maybe they came together and decided they might really have something again and need that get-us-over-the-top piece? What if the main reason they executed the signing is that they really believe in what they have?

It doesn't really matter to me why they did it - only that AP got it done. Kudos to him. I think the problem with that theory is that they already acknowledged they weren't comfortable with our current group of WRs - they almost spent a gazillion dollars on several of the top rated free agent WRs. I think that alone tells us they weren't anywhere near comfortable with who we have other than Terry. It's not that they didn't swing - they just swung and missed. They knew it was a weakness.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Random Burgold morning thought:

What if the Diggs signing was not an acknowledgement that the team needed a better number 2 wide receiver, but a reaction to how well the coaches and front office thinks the team is doing this preseason? Maybe they came together and decided they might really have something again and need that get-us-over-the-top piece? What if the main reason they executed the signing is that they really believe in what they have?

Could be. What I found interesting is that two of the people pushing back on my Peters/WR takes also had much lower expectations for the team. When I pressed them on their projections, they were perfectly content with a mediocre season. One of them also wasn't nearly as high on Jayden as I am.

That made me realize we're looking at this from completely different perspectives.

A. I see this as a good team that's one or two moves away from becoming a great one. And when you have a quarterback like Jayden on a rookie contract, you have a legitimate shot at making a Super Bowl run.

B. If I were content with mediocrity, I wouldn't care whether Van Jefferson or someone else was the Z receiver. I wouldn't care about rolling the dice on another mid-round receiver or hoping a reclamation project suddenly breaks out.

My whole point has always been that there's urgency. The rookie-contract window isn't forever—every year that passes is one less shot before your quarterback starts taking up $60-plus million of the cap.

If I had more of the old Dan Snyder mindset—"just keep rebuilding, be respectable, and maybe 2027 is the year"—I'd probably be perfectly happy with the status quo.

That also made me wonder if my expectations for the team were simply higher than the front office's. Maybe they genuinely believed they were still a year away and that adding another impact player or two wouldn't materially change their 2026 outlook. If that's what they thought, I could at least understand the logic. But maybe that thinking has changed.

The camp vibes seem much better than they were a year ago. By all accounts, Jayden has been on fire. The defense appears to have real talent, and from the reports it sounds like Daronte has that Flores scheme going and its funky and fun to watch. On offense, it also sounds like Blough has the unit adapting quickly to his system.

If that's all real, then suddenly this looks a lot more like a team that's ready to make a serious run rather than one that's simply hoping to be competitive. I felt that way to some extent before camp. While I bemoaned what was done on offense and I think some fans are a bit overhyped on some players on that unit -- I think the defensive additions are fire.

 

[RexTomb]

Random Burgold morning thought:

What if the Diggs signing was not an acknowledgement that the team needed a better number 2 wide receiver, but a reaction to how well the coaches and front office thinks the team is doing this preseason? Maybe they came together and decided they might really have something again and need that get-us-over-the-top piece? What if the main reason they executed the signing is that they really believe in what they have?

I’ve been saying to anyone that will listen - I’m ecstatic that we got the Eagles and the Cowboys for our first two games. I think we are going to punch them both in the mouth. Eagles generally start slow, especially now that they are starting over again at both coordinator positions. In addition, the loss of AJ Brown is going to affect their offense more than anyone is reporting. I think we are going to turn some heads early.

 

[DWinzit]

This team sure feels like the most talented team we have fielded in years. That is especially the case knowing a few injured players are expected back healthy shortly.

The talent level is really going to bleed through with all the competition at so many positions.

I can see other teams looking to request late August trades for some of our borderline players before cuts. We haven''t really been in that position forever.

 

[Anselmheifer]

The most important thing out of camp by far, to me, is that Jayden has been on fire. He really didn’t look like himself last year to start the season. And he’s learning not just a new offense, but a new offense that requires him to drop back, and to drop back and turn his back to the defense on play action.

I think I’ve just been traumatized by the team too much over the years and was worried that maybe that rookie season was a mirage.

Even if Jayden never progresses, and stays at the level he played at in his rookie season, we are looking at top 5 level QB play until he declines.

I am however also very encouraged by how the offensive and defensive schemes seem to be coming along.

 

[skinsinparadise]

I watched a YouTube video about Diggs' offseason, and it got me even more fired up about the signing.

A. He seemed genuinely bothered by the off-the-field issues and talked about having to refocus and work through those distractions. I also watched a separate video where Mike Florio—who's a lawyer and followed the case closely—said he thought the case against Diggs was flimsy and likely wouldn't go anywhere. Who knows how it'll ultimately play out, but it made me feel a little better about the situation.

B. His work ethic looks absolutely off the charts. You can tell this is a guy who's obsessed with getting better.

C. The biggest thing for me was watching him train and simply seeing how he moves. I've been to plenty of training camps and watched a lot of receivers up close. I honestly can't remember seeing a guy on this roster as twitchy as Diggs. His feet are unbelievably quick—not just straight-line speed, but his lateral explosion is elite. Just watching him move, it's easy to see why he can still be a difference-maker.

D. I also loved hearing him say he thrives in chaos. He talked about how one of his biggest strengths is adjusting routes on the fly once the play breaks down. One reason Jayden loved throwing to Ertz was because Ertz had that same feel for uncovering when plays went off script. Fans knock Ertz at times, but there's no denying he was one of Jayden's favorite outlets, especially on key downs.

E. Another thing I've noticed is that, unlike in college, Jayden has become very comfortable attacking the middle of the field in the NFL. That's why Logan Paulsen's point made so much sense to me. It wouldn't surprise me if Diggs ended up leading this team in targets. Their skill sets seem like a natural fit.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Watched a Josh Taylor video about the Wrs, good stuff.

Basically he thinks that Van Jefferson is likely the guy who doesn't make the team (Keim speculated the same). Dyami likely beats Burks. Burks makes the team though if they carry 7. Luke is looking like the starter at slot with some Z. Diggs and him likely interchange slot-Z. Lane makes it as a punt returner albiet struggiling in camp as a WR especially with drops ala his drops during the season.

 

[DWinzit]

I watched a YouTube video about Diggs' offseason, and it got me even more fired up about the signing.

A. He seemed genuinely bothered by the off-the-field issues and talked about having to refocus and work through those distractions. I also watched a separate video where Mike Florio—who's a lawyer and followed the case closely—said he thought the case against Diggs was flimsy and likely wouldn't go anywhere. Who knows how it'll ultimately play out, but it made me feel a little better about the situation.

B. His work ethic looks absolutely off the charts. You can tell this is a guy who's obsessed with getting better.

C. The biggest thing for me was watching him train and simply seeing how he moves. I've been to plenty of training camps and watched a lot of receivers up close. I honestly can't remember seeing a guy on this roster as twitchy as Diggs. His feet are unbelievably quick—not just straight-line speed, but his lateral explosion is elite. Just watching him move, it's easy to see why he can still be a difference-maker.

D. I also loved hearing him say he thrives in chaos. He talked about how one of his biggest strengths is adjusting routes on the fly once the play breaks down. One reason Jayden loved throwing to Ertz was because Ertz had that same feel for uncovering when plays went off script. Fans knock Ertz at times, but there's no denying he was one of Jayden's favorite outlets, especially on key downs.

E. Another thing I've noticed is that, unlike in college, Jayden has become very comfortable attacking the middle of the field in the NFL. That's why Logan Paulsen's point made so much sense to me. It wouldn't surprise me if Diggs ended up leading this team in targets. Their skill sets seem like a natural fit.

Yeah DIggs thrives everywhere. Jayden could easily start looking straight to him and Terry over the TE's when in the red zone. They can get open anyplace and have a great fight for the ball

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah DIggs thrives everywhere. Jayden could easily start looking straight to him and Terry over the TE's when in the red zone. They can get open anyplace and have a great fight for the ball

Yeah actually the more I digest it, the more I think its going to be 1A-1B. They got lucky that Aiyuk had those meltdown videos and SF stuck to their guns because otherwise it would be Aiyuk. I did prefer Diggs over Aiyuk even before the Aiyuk meltdown but lol with the benefit of more hindsight, its an absolute no brainer.

 

[burgold]

The most important thing out of camp by far, to me, is that Jayden has been on fire. He really didn’t look like himself last year to start the season. And he’s learning not just a new offense, but a new offense that requires him to drop back, and to drop back and turn his back to the defense on play action.

I think I’ve just been traumatized by the team too much over the years and was worried that maybe that rookie season was a mirage.

Even if Jayden never progresses, and stays at the level he played at in his rookie season, we are looking at top 5 level QB play until he declines.

I am however also very encouraged by how the offensive and defensive schemes seem to be coming along.

I heard in the middle of the night John Mara swapped out Daniels VR set with an old Pong unit at the start of 2025. Might be the reason everyone has overlooked.

(More seriously, yeah, Daniels didn't seem as connected or sharp even in the preseason in 2025. Good to hear the accuracy and timing seems to be back.)

 

[skinsinparadise]

In Jayden's defense he didn't throw one ball in preseason games. And in camp, it was basically KJ Osborn, Chris Moore, etc been blanketed by the secondary. I saw it one day myself.

It made some wonder do they have an elite secondary? But lol, it became evident not so when Drake Maye smoked them in the joint practice.

 

[burgold]

On this morning's Locked on Commanders' podcast, the CBS host mentioned Newton had a practice sack and a couple of good plays in the last practice. Did his reading of BGO make him realize he needed to ramp it up?

 

[burgold]

In Jayden's defense he didn't throw one ball in preseason games. And in camp, it was basically KJ Osborn, Chris Moore, etc been blanketed by the secondary. I saw it one day myself.

It made some wonder do they have an elite secondary? But lol, it became evident not so when Drake Maye smoked them in the joint practice.

You're right. He just had that one drive that was all run plays and ended with Daniels jogging into the endzone splitting two would be tacklers.

Am I remembering reports from practice then?

 

[skinsinparadise]

On this morning's Locked on Commanders' podcast, the CBS host mentioned Newton had a practice sack and a couple of good plays in the last practice. Did his reading of BGO make him realize he needed to ramp it up?

Good to hear. I like Harrison when he's been interviewed but otherwise its the one podcast I don't listen to.

 

[skinsinparadise]

You're right. He just had that one drive that was all run plays and ended with Daniels jogging into the endzone splitting two would be tacklers.

Am I remembering reports from practice then?

Don't recall too much about Jayden specifically but recall no one was open in camp. I saw that one day in camp myself and wrote about it last year. It was tough to chicken and egg it at the time -- was it the secondary was really that special or do the WRs suck? We learned later of course that both the Wrs and CBs sucked but the Wrs sucked more.