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Athan Kaliakmanis Athan Kaliakmanis Could be QB2 for Week 1
Sat, Sep 5, 2026, 10:19 AM
Kaliakmanis made the Commanders' 53-man roster as the third-string quarterback, but he could be the team's backup for Week 1 against the Eagles if Marcus Mariota (knee) is not cleared to play.
Analysis: Mariota suffered an MCL sprain in his right knee during the Commanders' preseason game against the Dolphins on Aug. 14. The hope for the Commanders is that the veteran quarterback will be available to serve as the backup to Jayden Daniels for Week 1, but if that's not the case, then it would be Kaliakmanis who steps into the QB2 role behind Daniels. Across three preseason games, Kaliakmanis -- a seventh-round pick of the Commanders in the 2026 NFL Draft -- completed 24 of 37 passes for 294 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. |
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Chig Okonkwo Chig Okonkwo Listed as first-teamer in depth chart
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 12:31 PM
Okonkwo is listed as a starting tight end on the Commanders' unofficial depth chart.
Analysis: After a four-year stint to begin his career in Tennessee, Okonkwo moved on to Washington via free agency this offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $27 million contract. Considering the investment made in him, it's no surprise he's listed as a first-teamer ahead of the 2026 campaign, and with lackluster competition behind him for targets in the form of John Bates (hamstring), Ben Sinnott (oblique) and Colson Yankoff, Okonkwo is poised to serve as the top TE for QB Jayden Daniels. |
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Jayden Daniels Jayden Daniels One possession in preseason
Fri, Sep 4, 2026, 12:22 PM
Daniels played just one possession during the Commanders' three-game preseason slate, failing to complete his only pass.
Analysis: Daniels suited up for preseason Week 2 at Detroit, but Washington's offense quickly went three-and-out via the aforementioned incompletion, a sack for a loss of 10 yards and an 11-yard Kaytron Allen run. Daniels otherwise remained on the sideline for the rest of exhibition season. After an outstanding rookie campaign in 2024, he endured an injury-plagued 2025, completing just 60.6 percent of his passes for 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions and rushing 58 times for 278 yards and two more TDs in seven appearances. |
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Terry McLaurin Terry McLaurin Team's WR room comes into focus
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 1:12 PM
McLaurin is set to lead a group of seven wide receivers that made Washington's initial 53-man roster.
Analysis: McLaurin had a career-low 582 receiving yards while being limited to 10 appearances in 2025. Prior to that down year, the 2019 third-round pick out of Ohio State recorded at least 919 receiving yards in each of his first six NFL regular seasons. McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are expected to operate as the top targets for QB Jayden Daniels, with Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey providing depth at wide receiver. |
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Stefon Diggs Stefon Diggs Set for starting role in Washington
Thu, Sep 3, 2026, 1:02 PM
Diggs is among the seven wide receivers on Washington's initial 53-man roster.
Analysis: The depth chart behind Diggs appears uncertain, but the veteran wide receiver seems safely locked into a starting role opposite Terry McLaurin heading into the regular season. Antonio Williams, Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey also made the team. Diggs has fallen short of 1,000 receiving yards only once in the past eight regular seasons. |
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Practices in full Wednesday
Wed, Sep 2, 2026, 6:30 PM
Chaisson (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Analysis: Chaisson suffered a knee injury during a joint practice with the Dolphins in early August. The linebacker sat out all three preseason games but has recovered from the injury at the perfect time. The 27-year-old is all set to suit up for the Sept. 13 regular season opener against the Eagles. |
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jacory Croskey-Merritt Back at practice Tuesday
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 10:22 AM
Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is dressed for Tuesday's practice, Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports.
Analysis: This is a big positive for Croskey-Merritt, who had been working through a lower-body issue late in the preseason. He is now trending in the right direction for Week 1, but official injury reports the week of the game will give final confirmation. If healthy, Croskey-Merritt is in line for a prominent role yet again in the Washington backfield. |
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Back with Washington
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 8:48 AM
The Commanders re-signed Tuttle on Monday.
Analysis: Tuttle was part of the Commanders' final roster cuts Sunday, but the team was able to reopen a spot for him a day later after placing offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (triceps) on injured reserve. The 30-year-old defensive tackle previously spent time with the Titans and Commanders in 2025, appearing in 12 games while logging 15 tackles. |
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Re-signs with Washington
Tue, Sep 1, 2026, 8:45 AM
The Commanders re-signed Moreau on Monday.
Analysis: Moreau was part of the Commanders' final roster cuts Sunday, but the team was able to reopen a spot for him a day later after placing defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton (pectoral) on injured reserve. The 32-year-old cornerback had previously spent the 2025 season with the Vikings, appearing in 11 games and logging 17 tackles and two passes defensed. |
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Lands on injured reserve
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 11:16 PM
Maguranyanga (undisclosed) reverted to the Commanders' injured reserve Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: It's not clear what type of issue Maguranyanga is dealing with, but his reversion to IR means he's slated to sit out all of the 2026 season. However, if he works out an injury settlement with Washington he'd be eligible to suit up during the campaign. |
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Heads to injured reserve
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 11:05 PM
Jacobs (undisclosed) reverted to Washington's injured reserve Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: Jacobs was waived/injured Sunday due to an undisclosed issue. He cleared waivers and subsequently reverted to IR. That means Jacobs will need to sit out the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Commanders. |
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Quentin Moore Quentin Moore Reverts to IR
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 9:59 PM
Moore (undisclosed) reverted to the Commanders' injured reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: Moore cleared waivers after being waived/injured by the Commanders on Sunday. The tight end will now spend the entirety of the 2026 regular season on IR unless he is waived with an injury settlement. |
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Jacoby Jones Jacoby Jones Reverts to IR from Washington
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 9:55 PM
Jones (undisclosed) reverted to the Commanders' injured reserve list Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: Jones caught eight passes for 82 yards over three preseason contests with the Commanders. The wide receiver was waived with an injury designation Sunday and cleared waivers. If Jones does not want to spend the entirety of the 2026 regular season on IR, he will need to reach an injury settlement with the Commanders to become a free agent. |
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Moved to IR
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 5:29 PM
The Commanders placed Newton (pectoral) on injured reserve Monday.
Analysis: Newton underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral on Aug. 20. The defensive tackle will be required to miss the first four games of the regular season at minimum before he is eligible for activation. Newton will likely take longer to return, but has a good chance of participating in the tail end of the regular season if his recovery stays on schedule. |
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Placed on injured reserve
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 5:24 PM
The Commanders placed Tunsil (triceps) on injured reserve Monday.
Analysis: Tunsil is recovering from a surgery he underwent to repair a torn right triceps. The starting left tackle will need to miss at least four games on IR before becoming eligible to return to the active roster. In all likelihood, Tunsil will be out far longer than four games, likely missing the entirety of the 2026 regular season while he recovers. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Back at practice
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 4:22 PM
Mariota (knee) returned to practice Monday, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Analysis: Mariota missed the last two weeks of the preseason after suffering a sprained MCL in his right knee in the team's 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins on Aug. 14. The veteran QB will look to increase his workload at practice in the coming days in preparation to serve as the the Commanders' top reserve option behind Jayden Daniels again in 2026. |
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Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jacory Croskey-Merritt Set to practice next week
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 4:11 PM
Croskey-Merritt (lower body) is expected to return to practice next week, John Keim of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Croskey-Merritt was forced to miss the Commanders' final two preseason games due to a lower-body injury, and he will not participate at practice Monday. His participation level once he gets back on the field should offer more clarity on his readiness for the regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Eagles. In the meantime, Kaytron Allen is the Commanders' top healthy option in the backfield with Rachaad White (hamstring) also banged up at practice. |
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Starting season on PUP list
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 10:19 AM
Wise (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/PUP list on Sunday.
Analysis: Wise had been on PUP to start camp, and though he remains with the team, he will miss at least the first four games of the regular season as a result of Sunday's development The veteran defensive end missed the bulk of the 2025 season with a quadriceps injury, but it's unclear if this current issue is related. |
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To miss beginning of season
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 10:09 AM
Amos (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Sunday with a designation to return.
Analysis: The second-year corner will miss at least the first four games of the season for the Commanders as he works his way back from an ankle injury sustained during training camp. Amos played in 10 games as a rookie, logging 32 tackles and six pass breakups over 511 snaps. |
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Jeremy McNichols Jeremy McNichols Opening season on IR
Mon, Aug 31, 2026, 9:31 AM
The Commanders placed McNichols (quadriceps) on injured reserve with a designation to return Sunday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: As a result of the transaction, McNichols won't be eligible to make his 2026 debut until at least Week 5 while he recovers from the quad injury, which he sustained earlier this month. Once reinstated, McNichols could have a role on special teams for the Commanders, but he'll likely be in line for limited snaps on offense if all of Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body), Rachaad White (hamstring) and Kaytron Allen are healthy and available out of the backfield. |
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