The Washington Commanders embark on training camp with low external expectations for upcoming season
The Washington Commanders open training camp Wednesday with low external expectations for the upcoming season. Most sportsbooks have the team’s win total at 6.5, tied for the fourth lowest in the NFL. But the first offseason under principal owner Josh Harris was about laying the foundation for a rebuild. So here are 30 of the most pressing topics as camp begins.
1. Coaching staff cohesion
First-year coach Dan Quinn assembled a staff with limited experience working together. That could look smart in contrast to Ron Rivera’s strategy or devolve into mistrust and infighting.
2. Jayden Daniels’s development
To open camp, Quinn is expected to say the quarterback job is still a competition between Daniels, the rookie drafted second overall, and veteran free agent signing Marcus Mariota.
3. First-team quarterback reps
If Daniels takes all the first-team reps — as he did in minicamp — it’s not a real competition. If the reps are shared, it will spark questions about how that prepares Daniels to start Week 1, as he’s expected to do.
4. Adam Peters’s first draft class
The new general manager started the rebuild with nine draft picks in April, and the spotlight is brightest on Daniels and …
5. Johnny Newton’s left foot
The Commanders placed the second-round defensive tackle on the non-football injury list last week, and though he can return at any time during camp, it’s an ominous start. Newton hasn’t stepped on the field for his new team.
7. Kliff Kingsbury’s consistency
Kingsbury hasn’t been an offensive coordinator since he helped Johnny Manziel win the Heisman Trophy at Texas A&M in 2012. Can focusing exclusively on offense, instead of juggling the demands of being a head coach, help him end the worrisome trend of his teams fading down the stretch?
8. Joe Whitt Jr.’s attack mindset
Will the first-time defensive coordinator call plays as aggressively as he speaks in his news conferences?
Since 2021, when the NFL moved from four to three preseason games, joint practices have grown more popular. The Commanders will have two joint sessions — one in Florham Park, N.J., with the Jets and one in Miami Gardens, Fla., with the Dolphins.
16. Undrafted free agents
Washington could give opportunities to undrafted free agents this year, such as cornerback Chigozie Anusiem and tight end Colson Yankoff.
18. Here for a good time, not a long time
The versatile defensive back, who figures to be an important chess piece for Whitt, said he turned down more money to come to Washington because he wanted to play in this scheme.
26. Local political leaders
As the Commanders’ stadium sweepstakes continues, expect training camp visits from local elected officials, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D).
