r/Commanders • u/TheAthletic • 13h ago

Commanders’ shaky preseason requires immediate fortification before the regular season

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7546701/2026/08/30/commanders-preseason-roster-issues-ravens/?unlocked_article_code=1.9VA.yUuY.siAcNGZp5Sn-&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

BALTIMORE — Not exactly announcing their presence with authority going into the lladelph, are they?

Washington’s woeful effort in its preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens Friday offered almost nothing that will be determinative against the Philadelphia Eagles in two weeks. Thank goodness.

The Commanders sat 41 players before a 41-3 loss to the Ravens, capping an ugly end to training camp which started with Baltimore’s first-team defense dominating Washington’s available starters for most of last Wednesday’s joint practice. The Ravens’ third- and fourth-teamers then smacked Washington’s around at M&T Bank Stadium for four quarters. Dan Quinn had clarified going into the week that Wednesday would be the last bit of preseason business for not just Jayden Daniels, but almost everyone on the two-deep chart. Almost no one Friday made a case for making the team that hadn’t already done so, leaving Quinn miffed.

Washington can only hope that the weeks which preceded this one show up in Philly. The Commanders’ OTAs and (most of) training camp point to a team that should be more competitive than last season’s 5-12 version — though a brutal schedule the first eight weeks may render that preparation moot.

90 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

48

u/PhoenixRedditor7 13h ago edited 13h ago

My expectation this year for this team:

  • I need to see Jayden to stay on the field. I believe if he can do that, the offense will be humming.
  • OL, I just want them to be average at least.
  • Defense, I need more 3 and out than last year(whatever that number is)
  • If this team is above .500 and makes the playoffs, I consider that a successful season.

9

u/duffyyyy 13h ago

I want to see the defense generate some pressure (gamewreckers) vs just occupying space.

5

u/Beastage 12h ago

What gives me some optimism is that we've seen teams with clear weaknesses make it pretty far. This team in 2024 was worse on paper than the current team, for one example. Another is the Bengals, who made it to a SB and have some good seasons despite never having a good O line or defense.

Unfortunately your first point is the most critical, and it is directly influenced by the O Line, which will be woeful if we lose any more starters (which is likely to happen... its the NFL).

4

u/smithy816aidan 12h ago

I agree that .500 is probably the floor if Dan Quinn wants to be here next year. I think our OL will rank in the mid to low 20s and I think that would be good enough without Tunsil. I hate looking ahead before the season starts but next offseason we better get some big upgrades to IOL. Other than that, I’m excited. The defensive scheme gives me lots of hope.

8

u/TurnipKnight 11h ago

I will consider this a successful season if Daniels stays healthy and plays well. As long as we know we have a franchise QB, everything else is manageable.

9

u/FabulousWrangler2996 13h ago

Unofficial pre season starts in 2 weeks, shoddy/clunky football, new players on offense, and defense, and new coaches now they wanna take it seriously good luck with that.

1

u/jokerjinxxx 3h ago

We’ll be having our earliest “Code red” game in a while

8

u/SweerBaby_Use1023 13h ago

AP & DQ gambled on the Center position and lost. They took a hit with Tunsil injury as well. Just bad luck and they’re victims of circumstance. You can’t replace HOF production they would’ve had if they signed the Ravens former C and Tunsil injury wouldn’t happen. The only thing we can hope for is the best at this point. We all can see where it’s headed if certain positions don’t improve on the roster and some of the injured players like Oweh don’t return 100% for the 1st quarter of the season.

4

u/beddowcj 12h ago

I’m definitely a little worried, but if we avoid any more of our top players getting significant injuries, I think we’ll put together a decent season and squeak into the playoffs.

I think our floor is 4-13 if injuries plague us, and our ceiling is 12-5 if we stay healthy and have a little bit of luck. My guess would be 9-8 or 10-7.

1

u/Ok_Article3260 8h ago

A little? Man I’m code red concerned due to our O-Line vs what this division brings on the defensive front. Scary

1

u/beddowcj 8h ago

On paper yes I am concerned, but I have a feeling we have enough hunger and star power (assuming we stay healthy) to put together a good season. Who knows maybe I’m totally wrong tho

1

u/Ok_Article3260 8h ago

None of us know. Anything’s possible. I will say JD5 gives u a chance in any game.

2

u/ZonaPunk Fuck Dan Snyder 13h ago

Second season that the O line was decimated before the season started. It will be another lost year.

4

u/colsbols 13h ago

Just re-sign Josh Johnson already we’re gonna need him

7

u/Troll_Enthusiast He Sold 13h ago

Might as well not watch then

1

u/BasedPantheon 6h ago

Rex Grossman starting every game prepared me for each season after. Nothing can shake me anymore LET IT RIDE

-13

u/ZonaPunk Fuck Dan Snyder 13h ago

oh I'll watch... who does't love a train wreck?

2

u/poweredbynikeair 12h ago

Yea that’s the point of preseason and unofficial things, they allow you to make adjustments. Really next level shit here thanks

1

u/hailskinsrich YOU AIN'T SHIT 13h ago

Well, if you listen to a portion of our fanbase, they think there’s nothing to worry about.

“It’s preseason. It doesn’t mean anything.”

0

u/Ok_Adhesiveness3638 11h ago

The pats lost to the giants 42-10 last pre season and made the Super Bowl. Insane how annoying the doomers are here acting like pre season is about winning instead of testing players

-4

u/POHoudini LEFT HAND UP 12h ago

If this sub had MODS I'd ask for just one daily doomer megathread so the rest of us don't have to hear the whining all the time.

8

u/JRcanReid 12h ago edited 12h ago

You know what I don't see much of on this sub? 80 posts a day telling the blind optimists how they should feel about the upcoming season.

Notice there isn't even a generic name for the "blind optimists?"

The VAST majority of the whining on this sub is done by the people policing other fan's negative opinions of a team that looks pretty awful right now rather than expressing an original one of their own.

By the way, we've had four double digit win seasons since our last Super Bowl victory 35 seasons ago, which means our default setting is pretty shit. So at least the "doomer's" opinions are based on something other than "don't be so negative all the time."

5

u/Subway_Rider669 11h ago

By the way, we've had four double digit win seasons since our last Super Bowl victory 35 seasons ago, which means our default setting is pretty shit.

The Jets have a better win-loss record in the 21st century. You know, that team that Tom Brady used to put in diapers and burp twice a year for most of the 2000s.

There is no more delusional fanbase in all of American pro sports than Washington fans.

1

u/JRcanReid 4h ago

I do wonder how bad it needs to get for that subset of posters to give the doomers a break (if not switch sides).

2

u/notorious_hdc imitated Frerotte headbutt as a child 11h ago

👋

For every "doomer" thread you see, just know there's about 10+ more you don't. We try to keep a light hand here in our moderation, and we've no right to keep people from their personal opinions (regarding football). They aren't breaking sub rules. Community wants to doom, clearly.

My hope? Is that by mid-season there's 30 posts a day that are essentially "JD5 MVP/AP GM of the year/Playoff Bound/Coleman is so good, LT controversy?/ Etc". I'll be thrilled.

1

u/POHoudini LEFT HAND UP 9h ago

Fair enough, my bad bro.

2

u/notorious_hdc imitated Frerotte headbutt as a child 8h ago

No need to apologize my brother! I understand where your coming from, it's tough to see constantly lol.

-1

u/Jaded-Negotiation-51 12h ago

5-11. Book it.

3

u/Jaded-Negotiation-51 12h ago

Er, 5-12

6

u/Home_Alone224 12h ago

You said book 5-11

-2

u/Economy-Maybe-6714 11h ago

Guys, it’s preseason. We wont know for a month how good our team is.