The Commanders and Baltimore Ravens mutually canceled the joint practice they had scheduled for next week. Coach Dan Quinn indicated the short turnaround from Monday night\u2019s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals to the Aug. 23 preseason finale against the Ravens made it too difficult to host the Ravens in an additional gamelike setting. Quinn and Ravens Coach John Harbaugh discussed their plans Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Rookie wideout Jaylin Lane\u2019s role is expanding. Already the likely punt returner and a breakout player in the slot, Lane has been getting more snaps as an outside receiver, including with the first-team offense in Tuesday\u2019s scrimmage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s another element, another dimension,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cWhat do you do from a player who\u2019s outside? There\u2019s deeper routes, deeper overs. With his speed, we wanted to go into that. We know what we\u2019ve seen out of breaking people off man-to-man.\u201d<\/p>\n
When a coaching staff adds more to a rookie\u2019s plate in preseason, it\u2019s a good sign it sees him as a contributor during the season. In some ways, the Commanders\u2019 exploration of Lane\u2019s skill set is reminiscent of how they handled cornerback Mike Sainristil last year.<\/p>\n
How NFL teams approach, develop rookie QBs at training camp<\/a><\/p>\n It was during Quinn\u2019s interview<\/a> with new team owner Josh Harris and new general manager Adam Peters in January 2024 that he outlined his plan for setting up the first offseason around a rookie QB. After his firing over three years earlier<\/a> as the Falcons\u2019 coach, Quinn spent time analyzing what he\u2019d do differently the next time. One thing that stood out: He hadn\u2019t built his Atlanta coaching staff to withstand success.<\/p>\n After the Falcons went to the Super Bowl<\/a> in the 2016 season, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left to become coach of the 49ers and took assistants such as Mike McDaniel and Mike LaFleur with him. Matt LaFleur, meanwhile, left to join Sean McVay\u2019s staff with the Rams.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you had this brain drain,\u201d Peters said. \u201cBut you\u2019ve got to understand you\u2019ve got to have somebody next. That was one of the things that, in his interview, he talked to me about — building a deep coaching staff and having the next guy and the next guy, anticipating success.\u201d<\/p>\n Quinn hired Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. He hired Brian Johnson as pass game coordinator. He retained Tavita Pritchard, who\u2019d been hired a year earlier as quarterbacks coach. And he hired former NFL quarterback David Blough as assistant quarterbacks coach.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted a big staff, hoping that things would go well and teams would want to interview our guys and we\u2019d have people from within to replace them,\u201d Quinn recalled in an interview before practice at training camp last month. \u201cAnd that way, when things happen, it\u2019s not different voices, different systems. So we were thinking ahead, and all of this is before Jayden even arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s an axiom that says more young NFL quarterbacks are ruined than made in the NFL — that the situation is everything when breaking in a young passer. Teams that get the opportunity to land a potential franchise signal-caller are heavily invested in making sure it all works. There has to be a strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing we wanted to do was get a really good backup quarterback,\u201d Peters said. \u201cA quarterback that could start or could compete with him. But at the same time, find a guy who, if he was the backup, he wouldn\u2019t be pissed off. He would be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n Quinn and Peters are quick to mention Mariota — whom they eventually did sign<\/a> — when they talk about the support system around Daniels and the success the Commanders had last season. They laud Mariota as a great teammate, and Quinn even mentioned the similarities between the draft circumstances of the two quarterbacks. There\u2019s a reason they wanted to bring him back this season, and the way he supported Daniels was a big part of it.<\/p>\n Washington Post (paywall)<\/p>\n Javon Kinlaw\u2019s road led back to Washington, and all signs are pointing up<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018He dwarfs people\u2019: Commanders defensive tackle is making his presence known on the field and aiming to change lives off it<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just ready to put on for the city, point-blank, period,\u201d Kinlaw said. \u201cI have a lot of people that\u2019s rooting for me here, and I want to help them out. I want people to be able to brag on me. The more I continue to get better at this game, the more it\u2019s going to inspire.\u201d<\/p>\n At this point, Kinlaw\u2019s backstory is well-documented<\/a>. He and his mother endured periods of homelessness in Washington after a deal went bad at the construction company where she worked. He went to live with his father near Charleston, South Carolina, and the move introduced him to football without eliminating the tumult from his life.<\/p>\n \u201cI was supposed to be here last year,\u201d Kinlaw said. \u201cBut it didn\u2019t shake out. I\u2019m just glad that I\u2019m here now more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n During a conversation this week, Kinlaw interrupted a reporter who said his skill set had been well-established.<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d he said. \u201cNot yet. I\u2019m nowhere near the player I\u2019m going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Commanders host veteran OT George Fant for a visit<\/a> \u201cI think at the core, if you\u2019re a developmental coach, then you also want to develop the staff and give them chances to level up and to do things,\u201d Quinn said ahead of the scrimmage.<\/p>\n The Commanders have prioritized player development as one of their culture\u2019s most important pillars. They want players to know that if they are drafted or sign with the team, they will be put on a path that leads to improvement and given the tools to reach their career goals. It\u2019s also a promise they have lived up to, as several players on last year\u2019s roster, such as Frankie Luvu, Dorance Armstrong and Brian Robinson Jr., had some of their best seasons with the Burgundy & Gold.<\/p>\n To Quinn, that process starts with the coaching staff, as he wants to give them chances to advance their careers as well. \u201cI think of us as a developmental team,\u201d he said, and believes that is true for everyone on the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if we raise the tide of the coaches and get them better, then of course that\u2019s going to filter down to the players,\u201d Quinn said.<\/p>\n Nick Allegretti provides veteran leadership in the trenches<\/a><\/p>\n For Quinn, Allegretti\u2019s value extends beyond his assignments. His leadership qualities have helped foster a stronger bond among the offensive line group, creating a culture of accountability and toughness. \u201cHe\u2019s the kind of player who makes everyone around him better,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s helping the rookie next to him understand a blitz pickup or keeping the energy up in practice, Nick\u2019s presence is felt.\u201d<\/p>\n Allegretti\u2019s versatility has also given the Commanders more flexibility in their depth chart. While his primary position is guard, he has taken snaps at center in camp, providing insurance in case of injury. That adaptability has allowed Washington to experiment with different line combinations without losing cohesion.<\/p>\n The Commanders have high expectations for the 2025 season, and protecting star quarterback Jayden Daniels<\/a> while opening running lanes will be central to their success. With Allegretti in the mix, the offensive line has a leader who understands what it takes to compete at the highest level. His presence brings both immediate performance benefits and a long-term cultural shift toward professionalism and preparation.<\/p>\n Commanders roster is getting older with their win-now window in full effect<\/a><\/p>\n Look at the flurry of moves<\/a> after the embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots in the first preseason game.<\/p>\n Allan George, Dominque Hampton, and Viliami Fehoku Jr. were all released. That\u2019s three defenders, all 25 or 26 years old. A couple of weeks ago, another young defensive back, Fentrell Cypress III, was initially waived before reverting to the injured reserve list. He is 24.<\/p>\n In their place, the Commanders signed 27-year-old (soon to be 28) Essang Bassey, 31-year-old Duke Riley, and 32-year-old Antonio Hamilton Sr. All play defense, and their signings come on the heels of 36-year-old Von Miller\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n When Peters began reconstructing the moribund roster he inherited last year, he did so in a very balanced manner. He added a few veterans nearing the end of their careers. They were all signed to one-year deals. He reserved longer-term contracts for players just entering their prime. Players like Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong Jr., and Frankie Luvu hovered around the league average age between 26 and 27. They got the multi-year deals.<\/p>\n Peters also invested heavily in the draft. All eight picks<\/a> and two undrafted free agents made the roster, though some began the year on injured reserve. That\u2019s a fair amount of youth to balance out the experience.<\/p>\n The first sign that things were going to be different in Year 2 came early in the offseason. Peters re-signed his three oldest free agent pickups from 2024 \u2014 Zach Ertz, Bobby Wagner, and Nick Bellore. They each earned their new deals, but this was not necessarily on the cards last year.<\/p>\n Then he began swapping those precious draft picks for veterans, Deebo Samuel Sr. and Laremy Tunsil. Those five players have an average age of 33 years old.<\/p>\n The obvious explanation for this shift in strategy is Jayden Daniels.<\/p>\n The second-year quarterback is ahead of schedule. Daniels showed last year that he can take this team on a deep playoff run. Perhaps with a little more help, he can win a championship. So Peters adopted a win-now strategy<\/a>, which made quality veterans more appealing than developmental youngsters.<\/p>\n QB Jayden Daniels & Legend Champ Bailey Join the Show + DB Breakdown | Command Center<\/p>\n Eagles Training Camp Practice Notes: Browns dominate the day<\/a><\/p>\n The Birds squared off against the Cleveland Browns in the second of two joint training camp sessions between the two teams leading up to a Saturday afternoon preseason game. Here\u2019s what I observed at the NovaCare Complex.<\/p>\n The Eagles got their butts handed to them on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n Does this mean their 2025 season is already over before it even began?!<\/p>\n The Eagles\u2019 offense had some valid reasons for not looking awesome. No A.J. Brown, no Lane Johnson, no Landon Dickerson, and mostly no Saquon Barkley. Those are clearly key absences. Also, Jim Schwartz is one of the NFL\u2019s best defensive coordinators.<\/p>\n However, none of that is an excuse for the offense looking as sloppy as it did at times. It\u2019s not just that they were ineffective; it\u2019s also that they weren\u2019t very crisp. They didn\u2019t put themselves in a great position to succeed with the mistakes and miscues they made.<\/p>\n The Eagles\u2019 defense shouldn\u2019t have been as bad as it was. Sure, they were missing Zack Baun, but their top linebacker options behind him have played well this summer. Vic Fangio\u2019s unit was largely going up against a 40-year-old Joe Flacco and then a rookie Dillon Gabriel. And yet they allowed the Browns\u2019 offense to run circles around them.<\/p>\n 2025 NFL preseason, Week 2: How to watch every game, what to know for all 32 teams<\/a><\/p>\n [W]ith Landon Dickerson\u2019s injury<\/a> clouding the picture, the offensive line reps will be hotly contested against the Browns. Also, CB Adoree\u2019 Jackson might be on the outside looking in after the Eagles traded for<\/a> Jakorian Bennett. This game could be big for Jackson and a few others battling for jobs.<\/p>\n In addition to the standoff<\/a> with Micah Parsons, the Cowboys have other defensive issues. Two positions stand out as potentially concerning right now: defensive tackle and cornerback. The depth up front appears very light, so it would behoove players such as Jay Toia and Perrion Winfrey to show out against the Ravens. Cornerback also has been hurting with Trevon Diggs, Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel Jr. dealing with knee injuries. Kaiir Elam seemingly has stepped up, but others need to, as well. The Cowboys might be busy scouting other teams\u2019 DBs if they can\u2019t fill five corner spots on the opening 53-man roster.<\/p>\n The Giants had to be pleased with the first performance<\/a> of Jaxson Dart, who navigated the pocket well and threw with good precision vs. Buffalo last week. He now gets to flash his skills for the first time in a game setting for the home fans. But Brian Daboll said Russell Wilson and the starters needed the first series of work in last week\u2019s game and that the Giants would do it again<\/a>. If Daboll goes with the defensive starters, it will be another gift for Giants fans: The home debut of Abdul Carter, who made a quick but strong impression<\/a> in his first game.<\/p>\n The first preseason game<\/a> had plenty of ugly<\/a> for Washington, but it was not without its positives. CB Trey Amos has been one of camp\u2019s bright spots<\/a>, and he stood tall in his NFL debut. Another strong performance against Cincinnati could secure a major role, even starting, for the rookie second-rounder. The rest of this game should be about identifying depth roles at some thinner positions (including wide receiver, because of injury and Terry McLaurin\u2019s hold-in<\/a>) and prepping young standouts such as Amos and first-round OT Josh Conerly Jr. for Week 1 duty.<\/p>\n Five-time Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff retires from NFL after 10 seasons<\/a><\/p>\n In an interview for the University of Iowa football program\u2019s website<\/a>, the five-time Pro Bowler and 2020 first-team All-Pro guard revealed he retired from football during the summer following a 10-season career with Washington and the Jacksonville Jaguars.<\/p>\n 2025 NFL positional group rankings: Best, worst team units<\/a><\/p>\n Shakiest: Washington Commanders<\/p>\n Dante Fowler Jr., who led the Commanders in sacks (10.5) and pass rush wins (37) last season, signed with Dallas<\/a> in free agency. Little was done to replace him, with journeymen Deatrich Wise Jr<\/a>., 36-year-old Von Miller<\/a> and Jacob Martin brought in to join Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell. Versatile Frankie Luvu (the only player on the roster who had more than six sacks last season) will once again be key to Washington\u2019s pass rush.<\/p>\n Best: Washington Commanders<\/p>\n With Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu back, the Commanders pace this category for the second year in a row. Wagner is entering his age-35 season, but he ranked in the top 10 among off-ball LBs in pass rush wins, tackles for loss and QB hits last season. Luvu is the only NFL player with 250-plus tackles and 20-plus sacks over the past three seasons (335 and 21, respectively). The duo combined to play 98.2% of Washington\u2019s defensive snaps in 2024.<\/p>\n Shakiest: Washington Commanders<\/p>\n Jeremy Chinn (who led the Washington secondary in snaps last season) is gone<\/a> and is set to be replaced by 30-year-old Will Harris. The ex-Lion and Saint will work opposite 2024 starter Quan Martin, with Percy Butler returning as competition. None of these players have posted a quality Pro Football Focus grade in recent seasons, and Washington did not invest in the position during April\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/temp-george-fant-1.jpg\"\/)
<\/a>Training camp notebook | Commanders scrimmage chance for coaches to \u2018level up\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/temp-espn-overall-chart-1.jpg\"\/)
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