ASHBURN (DC News Now) – After a magical season where the Washington Commanders made it to the NFC title game for the first time in over 30 years, the team turns the page to focus on the 2025-26 season.
The front office bolstered the roster with talent, and now with a better team on paper and higher expectations heading into the year, the Commanders will have to live up to the standards they set for themselves.
However, the team is not focusing on what other people are saying heading into the year. Last season, nobody expected them to be a game short of reaching the Super Bowl, but if you ask the team, they believed they could have made it to the Super Bowl, and they almost did.
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz enters his second year with Washington, and as a leader, he is ensuring that the team keeps its focus on itself and does not worry about the extra attention they will receive at the start of the year.
“No one is gonna let any external factor dictate how we show up to work every day. The outside noise is just that outside noise, and so for us, it’s really just about coming out here trying to get better every day, and when the season comes around, we’ll see where the chips fall.”
On the defensive side of the ball, there are moving parts on the line as the team parted ways with defensive linemen Dante Fowler Jr, who led the team in sacks, and long-time Commander Jonathan Allen.
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is not worried about moving parts, but in fact, he is more excited to see who will step up and be the difference-maker on defense.
“Will it be a collective of guys? I don’t know. But I do feel that our pass rush will be better. I do feel, definitely, that our run defense will be better. Where will it come from? Which individual, is too early to say, but it will come.”
Head coach Dan Quinn also confirmed Wednesday that they will have joint practices with the New England Patriots at their team facilities ahead of their preseason game. Additionally, they will host the Baltimore Ravens for a joint practice ahead of their preseason matchup.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore were no-shows during voluntary OTAs on Wednesday. The team will begin veteran mandatory minicamp next week.
