{"id":8311,"date":"2026-07-29T18:05:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T18:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311"},"modified":"2026-07-29T18:05:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T18:05:35","slug":"after-a-disastrous-2025-season-commanders-launch-training-camp-with-renewed-intensity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311","title":{"rendered":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Commanders Coach Dan Quinn oversees the first day of training camp Wednesday in Ashburn. (Rod Lamkey\/AP)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

In the wake of a disastrous 2025 season, Washington Commanders Coach Dan Quinn knew the franchise was in need of wholesale change. This offseason, that manifested itself in new faces throughout the coaching staff and roster.<\/p>

Read more Feds relied on accounts from famed mobster, TV actress to build Comey case<\/a><\/p>\n

As training camp got underway Wednesday in Ashburn, so did the next step of Quinn\u2019s vision: Having more intense, focused and purposeful practices. That\u2019s something several returning players wanted to see<\/a>, and Quinn came to agree.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the practices are right, the victories follow because your intention is right, your details are right, the discipline\u2019s right,\u201d Quinn said. \u201c \u2026 That\u2019s why I\u2019m just hammering that over and over and over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last season, Utah Jazz Coach Will Hardy and guard Keyonte George visited the Commanders. George was in the midst of a breakout third season in the NBA, which prompted a question about why he believed he had made such a jump. He said it was getting in \u201ccrazy shape,\u201d which left a lasting impression with Quinn. He brought it up during organized team activities this offseason and tasked the players with that assignment going into training camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was proof,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cThat was my message: To say, \u2018In these five weeks, there\u2019s another level that we all can get to.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The Commanders aren\u2019t allowed to use pads yet because of NFL rules, but that didn\u2019t stop them from practicing with an edge during team drills Wednesday. It set a tone that they hope carries forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was competitive,\u201d quarterback Jayden Daniels said. \u201c[We just wanted to] get the juices flowing and get the guys ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quinn is breaking training camp into six \u201cblocks\u201d with different focus areas. The competitive periods of this week\u2019s practices will largely be focused on red zone work. As camp progresses, the team will shift its emphasis while incrementally ramping up.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy doing that, you can just focus on those four days or those three days,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cYou can also get the feedback. Did we do what we said we were going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are takeaways from the Commanders\u2019 first practice of training camp:<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Mike Sainristil got reps at outside cornerback and nickelback for the Commanders on Wednesday. (Rod Lamkey\/AP)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

The multiplicity of the revamped defense stood out as coordinator Daronte Jones frequently used both four-man and five-man fronts. Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle, Daron Payne and Charles Omenihu rotated along the interior defensive line for the first-team unit, with Odafe Oweh and K\u2019Lavon Chaisson on the edge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re playing with a D-line that\u2019s got a lot of talent and a lot of depth, it helps everybody,\u201d Omenihu said. \u201c \u2026 It\u2019s exciting. I love it. You\u2019ve got edge guys like KC and Oweh, and for us inside guys that makes it easier to just push that pocket when you know that quarterback\u2019s going to step up. You have a chance to get busy on a guard, and you can do that knowing that those guys are covering you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leo Chenal often lined up as a Sam linebacker and also rotated in at inside linebacker, alongside Frankie Luvu and Sonny Styles. Washington\u2019s versatile front allows it to throw a variety of looks at the offense while rushing the passer and create more one-on-one matchups.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s huge,\u201d Chenal said. \u201cIt\u2019s just going to make the ball come out quicker and make it easier for everybody at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defense also had plenty of movement on the back end. Amik Robertson and Mike Sainristil took most of the snaps at outside cornerback. At times, Sainristil moved inside at nickelback and was replaced on the outside by Ahkello Witherspoon.<\/p>

Read more Trump administration seeks $10 million more for Freedom 250 events<\/a><\/p>\n

Safety Nick Cross also spent some time at nickelback. Cross, Jeremy Reaves, Quan Martin and Will Harris rotated at safety.<\/p>\n

The rotation is partially due to position battles, of course, but it\u2019s also a feature of the defense. That plan was executed Wednesday as the defense got the better of the offense.<\/p>\n

The defensive line, in particular, frequently made plays in the backfield \u2014 both in the pass and run game. The unit came on in waves, which was the vision when General Manager Adam Peters poured resources into the position group this offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI especially love it when it gets to third down,\u201d Omenihu said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great scheme for the D-line to go out there and eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels expects to take more snaps under center this season. (Rod Lamkey\/AP)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

The offense is clearly still working to find its rhythm. The Commanders\u2019 pass catchers struggled to separate during practice, which led to the quarterbacks holding the ball longer and putting stress on the offensive line.<\/p>\n

There shouldn\u2019t be any sweeping judgments made off the first day of camp, but that\u2019s obviously not a formula for success on offense.<\/p>\n

In a positive for the offense, new coordinator David Blough put some wrinkles on display. Tight end Chig Okonkwo, for instance, spent time lined up as an inline tight end, slot receiver, outside receiver and fullback.<\/p>\n

Daniels took a notable number of snaps from under center. He almost exclusively operated from the pistol and shotgun in the first two years of his career, but he\u2019s rolling with the adjustment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m more comfortable than I was in the spring. It just comes with reps,\u201d Daniels said. \u201cI\u2019ve got more of a grasp and concept of how [Blough] wants to do things. \u2026 Turning my back to the defense isn\u2019t a problem. It\u2019s a weapon for me. I\u2019m trying to master it in every way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Commanders also mixed up their personnel groupings and frequently used formations with multiple tight ends.<\/p>\n

Punter Tress Way (pectoral), linebacker Kain Medrano (hamstring), cornerback Trey Amos (fibula) and defensive ends Deatrich Wise (quad) and Dorance Armstrong (ACL) didn\u2019t practice Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The Commanders made some roster moves Wednesday: They signed wide receiver River Cracraft and punter Matt Haack, released outside linebacker Andre Carter and tight end Anthony Firkser, and activated cornerback Fred Davis II off the active\/non-football illness list.<\/p>

Read more What do tennis pros think about between points? Inside those 25 pivotal seconds.<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The defense proves disruptive as the offense works out the kinks on the first day of training camp.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nAfter a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The defense proves disruptive as the offense works out the kinks on the first day of training camp.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Moving Insider USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fbe6bd86ae419d64d55cd27f9c2c974f-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03\"},\"headline\":\"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311\"},\"wordCount\":1092,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Interesting\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311\",\"name\":\"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?p=8311#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Moving Insider USA\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/movinginsiderusa.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA","og_description":"The defense proves disruptive as the offense works out the kinks on the first day of training camp.","og_url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311","og_site_name":"Moving Insider USA","article_published_time":"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fbe6bd86ae419d64d55cd27f9c2c974f-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03"},"headline":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity","datePublished":"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311"},"wordCount":1092,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg","articleSection":["Interesting"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311","url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311","name":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity - Moving Insider USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2026-07-29T18:05:35+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/02ad6e295bf3aaba7d80a86b04d83ba1-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8311#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"After a disastrous 2025 season, Commanders launch training camp with renewed intensity"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/","name":"Moving Insider USA","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/#\/schema\/person\/22d40ab81790f6a361021763bb56ef03","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com"],"url":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}