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The Washington Commanders had their first official day of training camp yesterday! The guys broke down all the top headlines and what their expectations are for day two of training camp.
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00:00All right, guys, we are underway.
00:03Day one of the 2026 training camp cakes is in the books.
00:10Helmets and shorts, approximately 90-minute practice.
00:13Of course, coming off a very, very disappointing 5-12 season in 2025.
00:20Dan Quinn and AP, they talked about the focus this year
00:26is going to be on competition, on conditioning,
00:30on a bigger energy level.
00:32And to that point, I thought it was interesting.
00:36I was listening to Bed Standing with our guy, Jesus Cakes, on 980.
00:46Kevin Sheehan.
00:47Kevin Sheehan.
00:49And they were talking about Dan Quinn had an interesting combo
00:55speak to the boys yesterday.
00:58He had Keontae George and Will Hardy, coach of the Utah Jazz.
01:03Apparently, DQ had run into them at some point somewhere in the offseason.
01:07And I guess they made a point of emphasis, at least Keontae did,
01:13about being in great shape.
01:15And he came into the league in great shape, but that he realized quickly
01:19that there's another level that you think you're in great shape
01:23and you might be in the best shape of your life,
01:26but there's another level that you have to get to
01:30at the professional level to really achieve.
01:34Of course, Keontae had an unbelievable season last year,
01:36averaged about 23.5 points or so.
01:39And DQ, I guess, obviously trying to make that point with this team
01:44that, you know, Jaden talked about it in his presser, too.
01:48So Will Hardy and Keontae George spoke.
01:51Were at the camp.
01:52Yes.
01:52Talking to all the players.
01:53That's my understanding.
01:54So random.
01:56Did not know Will Hardy, apparently, from Richmond.
01:59I was unaware.
02:00Yeah.
02:00Also unaware he was the head coach of the Utah Jazz.
02:03You could have given me.
02:04You could have put me in a room and said,
02:06name the head coach of the Utah Jazz,
02:08and I would be there for a million years not naming Will Hardy.
02:13So I want to get to Jaden here in a second,
02:15but one thing I don't think that Valdez picked this up
02:18and I wouldn't expect him to,
02:19but one little side thing that he did mention
02:21is working out with his trainer and being in, like, elite shape.
02:26And, again, it's been one of the points of emphasis for DQ
02:30and these guys, be here, be in elite shape.
02:33And Jaden talked about how he really got after it.
02:37But before we get into kind of how the day went,
02:42the standouts, the little injury concern that we got to talk about,
02:46let's have a little of Jaden Daniels when he was at the podium
02:50talking about the offense.
02:56Jaden, I know obviously you have familiarity with David Blau,
02:59working with him the last couple years,
03:00but where are you in the process of adjusting to the new offense,
03:03you know, working more on the center and just a new scheme overall?
03:06More comfortable than I was in the spring.
03:09You know, like I said,
03:10it just comes with reps over time throughout the spring.
03:12Then you go in the summer,
03:13you got more of a grasp and concept of how he wants to do things,
03:17how he wants to accomplish things like that.
03:18And then as time and time goes, you know, we're in camp now.
03:23So turning my back to defense isn't a problem.
03:25Stuff like that, you know, it's a weapon for me.
03:28I try to master it in every way I can.
03:31They didn't notice also the guys are wearing those little cams on their helmets again,
03:37the quarterbacks are.
03:38I saw that, yeah.
03:38And Jaden talked about that.
03:40I saw Marcus Mariota had one on.
03:41I didn't know.
03:42Well, all the guys do.
03:43And it's not for what you think, like, oh, they're looking at where they're looking,
03:47because Jaden pointed out, you know, my head could be in one direction,
03:50but my eyes can be looking somewhere else.
03:53It's really just about how they're articulating the plays,
03:56how they're all communicating together, kind of reviewing that,
03:59making sure everybody's sort of on the right page communication-wise.
04:03I know when we see those footage, we go, oh, wow, this is what Jaden's really looking at.
04:08But as he pointed out,
04:09sometimes your eyes are looking in a different direction where your head is pointed,
04:12so you can't really necessarily use it for that.
04:16The offense got off to a little bit of a slower start.
04:21They'd say mixed results.
04:24DQ made an emphasis, a point,
04:27of he wanted to start out right off the bat with a bang, get guys going.
04:31They did some red zone work, two-point plays, that kind of thing,
04:34would be super competitive.
04:37I know Linnell, I think, tweeted, or maybe it was Chris Russell at one point,
04:42that Jaden was a little off maybe in the early going, but he did finish stronger,
04:47had multiple touchdown throws.
04:50Guys that were, you know, it's important to note that Terry McLaurin here this year,
04:55Cakes, who day one, not just there on the sideline.
04:57That's good to know.
04:58Like, holding out.
04:59He's in the mix, fully present, doing his thing, being a leader.
05:03He was noticeably mentoring some of the young guys,
05:07especially rookie Jaden Bradley, the Dematha kid, undrafted wide receivers,
05:11got some size to him.
05:13The No. 2 wide receiver battle is what people are keeping their eyes on,
05:17and all these guys had their moments.
05:20Deami, Traylon Burks, I know, had an early catch that some people were paying attention to.
05:27Antonio Daniels seemed to stand out.
05:29Now, again, you're always looking for that with your...
05:31Antonio Daniels, you're always looking for that with your higher draft picks,
05:35but really impressing people with separation, hands, had a red zone touchdown.
05:41I saw the cut, I think it was the red zone one,
05:44I saw that clip that everyone was fawning over.
05:47Is that with the linebacker, where he just ditched the linebacker?
05:49Yeah, yeah, yeah, where he cut to the outside and then...
05:52Yeah, just a wide open right.
05:54Yeah.
05:54Everyone already wants to shut him down.
05:57Well, yeah.
05:58Now, he's working with the threes, so you have to take that into account.
06:01For sure.
06:01At least at the start of camp.
06:02But I'm telling you...
06:03I'm sure he's going to move up quickly.
06:05It's just so obvious that he run...
06:09Like, his route running is special.
06:11It's different.
06:13And even a dope like me can see it.
06:16I was having this argument with JP last week.
06:18He just thinks they all look the same.
06:20No, they don't all look the same.
06:21They all have different characteristics.
06:24And Antonio Williams runs great routes.
06:26That's why I bet on him to have 50 catches as a rook.
06:29Right.
06:29It may be aggressive, but I'm bullish on him.
06:32People noticed that Bill still looks explosive, even though he added a few pounds.
06:39Standing made a point of saying, though, he asked DQ about Bill and how important it is for him to
06:46be kind of a three-down guy.
06:49And he says he's not getting the warm and fuzzies from Dan.
06:53Doesn't mean there's any problem, but that he immediately started talking about Rashad White.
06:58Yeah, that's not great.
06:59That's not great for those that think Bill's going to have a big role catching balls out of the backfield.
07:05When you pivot immediately to the other guy in the room who's more known for that.
07:10Yeah.
07:10Now, again, they say Bill looked explosive.
07:14Looks good.
07:15DQ talked about him being super competitive.
07:17He also talked about him getting work on special teams.
07:20And, you know, again, that's going to be an issue because, you know, they have so many guys in that
07:26running back room that, you know, by adding White, by adding Jerome Ford, by drafting Fat Man, and then you
07:36still have a guy like McNichols who people loved on special teams.
07:39He was a big contributor on special teams.
07:42So if McNichols is on the outside looking in, who's going to fill that gap?
07:47Maybe that's going to be a place where Bill can solidify his spot because I thought Kevin made a really
07:53smart point that, you know, Bill was pretty outstanding for a seventh round pick to the to the point that
07:59over the last 10 years, there's basically been one other seventh round running back that has made an impact in
08:06the league.
08:06And it was like Pacheco.
08:08I think.
08:09Oh, I see.
08:10He's basically in the last 10 years.
08:12But yeah, yeah, been the only seventh round back make really any impact in the league before Bill, you know.
08:20And so, you know, Fat Man, take it for what it is.
08:24Sixth round pick.
08:25They're kind of similar, but they've invested a little capital in him.
08:29They brought in Ford.
08:30They brought in White.
08:31So obviously a lot of new new faces.
08:34I would add one more name.
08:35Thrilled with that room last year.
08:36This guy was also a seventh round pick last year.
08:38He had a big role with the Bears.
08:40Kyle Mononga, he also had a big role in that offense.
08:44So kind of like Bill, like he he kind of showed out as a rookie and last season took some
08:49of the the load off of DeAndre Swift in Chicago.
08:52But yeah, like it shows you that you don't have to necessarily draft a running back in the first two
08:58or three rounds to find a quality play.
09:01True, but it's still rare.
09:02It's tough.
09:03It's rare.
09:04Seventh rounder.
09:04Yeah.
09:05Yeah.
09:05You know, we had Alfred Morris.
09:06He was a sixth rounder.
09:07Right.
09:07You're literally finding gold.
09:08You're finding like a gold bar on the sidewalk to get a guy that produces like that.
09:13They're not super invested that they have to have you continue to develop your game because you're a seventh round
09:19pick, you know, whatever.
09:20Right.
09:21So, you know, who knows?
09:22It'll just be interesting to see how that shakes out there.
09:26Again, the defense seemed to have the upper hand early.
09:31Usually happens that way.
09:32A lot of eyes on Adafe Owe.
09:36He was the guy that got all the money, $100 million, and he's not there to just kind of fit
09:43in.
09:43He's there to stand out.
09:45And apparently he did that.
09:47The length, the size.
09:48He batted down an early Jaden Daniels pass that everybody noted.
09:53He got in early on what would have been an obvious sack if they were allowed to play it out.
09:58But you're not sacking quarterbacks.
09:59You're not taking them down, you know, in the preseason.
10:04Mikey Stanistro stood out, broke up a pass in the end zone.
10:08I believe Stanislaw said he definitely should have caught it.
10:11He should have caught it.
10:11It should have been a pick.
10:12Right.
10:13I read that, too.
10:15Rasul Douglas.
10:15By the way, that's something that they definitely need to improve upon is...
10:19Turnovers?
10:20Turnover differential.
10:21Yeah.
10:21They were second worst in the league last year.
10:23They just didn't cause any.
10:23They were like in the same neighborhood as the Jets.
10:25And you don't want to be in that neighborhood.
10:29Rasul Douglas made his presence felt.
10:32Sonny Stiles, Leo Chennault, and Frankie Louvoo all were being noted for showing off their versatility and athleticism.
10:41I think we can all agree.
10:43Those three guys pan out.
10:45You're going to have one of the most athletic linebacker groups in the game.
10:48So Stiles did look good on day one?
10:50I think so far, yeah.
10:52I mean, the size and athleticism just jump out at you.
10:55That's what you notice.
10:56I do think there is still.
10:57It's very much up in the air.
10:58Who's going to be the Green Dot guy?
11:02There's talk that Louvoo could do it.
11:05Sonny, of course, has had some experience.
11:08And DQ said he could very easily handle it.
11:11And I know Chennault even talked about it a few weeks ago about the call and plays and that sort
11:17of thing.
11:17I don't see any reason why Stiles can't handle it.
11:20But he played in a pro-style NFL defense led by Matt Patricia at Ohio State.
11:26So I think it's going to be a pretty seamless transition if he's the guy that they decide gets that
11:31role.
11:32I'll trust them.
11:32You know, whoever could do it.
11:34I do think it's a big ask for a rookie.
11:37But if they think he could do it, then he'll do it.
11:40Yeah.
11:40I don't think there's any question about that.
11:43Of course, the big fear is don't lose any of your core guys to injuries.
11:51Right?
11:51And there's a little bit of a scare.
11:53And it shows sort of how thin they are and could be at the center position.
12:00Nick Allegretti left early during individual drills with a trainer.
12:05And there is some sort of injury there.
12:08Don't know if it's serious.
12:12Nobody had information on what the injury might be.
12:15Yeah, I saw Finley talking about it.
12:17And he said that Quinn will probably talk about it today.
12:20Quinn will talk before practice today.
12:21But Standing pointed out that they don't have to really tell you about injuries until week one.
12:28So you just kind of get what you're at the mercy of whatever they're willing to share.
12:34Don't know if it's serious.
12:36If he is out, obviously they drafted Matt Goldman in the sixth round, but you don't want to hand over
12:44the starting center job to a rookie.
12:46Who would that be?
12:46The other guy that they could in a pinch if they had to, if they don't make any other moves,
12:51Brandon Coleman.
12:53DQ's talked about how he could fill in, if need be, at center.
12:58So remember, they went after Linderbock or whatever.
13:03The Raiders gave him a billion dollars.
13:05Gave him like $29 million a season.
13:07Yeah, this completely broke the salary structure for centers in this league.
13:14That would crush them if it was serious.
13:17Yeah, it would be a very, very big blow.
13:18Hopefully it's not, but that would crush them.
13:20Just don't know.
13:20No indication that it's serious.
13:22Could be a very mild thing.
13:23You're right.
13:24They've got guys that are on the pup list.
13:26I mean, I saw Trey Amos, who broke his leg like eight or nine, ten months ago.
13:34Should be back by now, but they're saying it's a soft tissue thing that's kind of keeping him out there.
13:38He was smoking a joke and laughing with the DBs out there in shorts and a t-shirt.
13:42He looked fine.
13:43He's going to be fine.
13:43He's going to be fine.
13:44I think it's just a matter of time.
13:46They still have Dorrance Armstrong, who's also on that pup active list.
13:50He's super close, coming back from his ACL, according to Quinn.
13:54And then Dietrich Wise.
13:56Correct.
13:56Of course, they've added so many guys on that defensive line.
13:59It is going to be somewhat interesting to see where Dietrich Wise fits in with all the guys they brought
14:07back.
14:07So, Wise, Armstrong, Amos, still could be another seven to ten days or so, at least, before we see those
14:17guys back out there and they're kind of at full strength.
14:20But day two, today.
14:21Today, 8.30.
14:23Hopefully, with DQ addresses the media for just ten minutes or so, we get an update on the Allegretti situation.
14:29But other than that, it seems like we stayed away from any major injury concerns.
14:34Yep.
14:34Let's see how the offense performs today in day two.
14:38Again, I don't think anybody should be too surprised that the defense seemingly got a little better of it on
14:45day one.
14:45That's typically kind of how these things play out.
14:48We'll talk more commanders with John Kime coming up at 7.40.
14:52He's the commander's reporter for ESPN.
14:55Next, Jerry Jones with a bold prediction for the 2026 version of the Dallas Cowboys.
15:00Next, Jerry Jones with a bold prediction for ESPN.
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