Full disclosure: We won’t have boots on the ground in Ashburn, Va., for this OTA, so we’ll rely on Commanders beat reporters like Nicki Jhabvala, John Keim, JP Finlay, Zach Selby and Ben Standig to be our eyes, ears and question askers. Follow those respected reporters if you don’t already.
The Commanders offseason program has been going on for some time now. They’ve been working out together since April 20, with on-field activity increasing in recent weeks.
OTAs will ramp things up starting on Wednesday afternoon, creating a more formal, practice-like setting. There’s still no real contact, but it’s as close to football action as we’ll get until training camp.
It also marks the first time on-site reporters will watch these Commanders work, offering intrigue to proceedings as we see all of general manager Adam Peters’ new additions join forces for the first time.
We’ll be keeping tabs on what goes on during Wednesday’s open session. Here are five things we’ll be watching:
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Jayden Daniels is back (and healthy)
We haven’t seen quarterback Jayden Daniels work since Dec. 7, 2025, when an injury-marred season was finally put to rest. A disappointing follow-up to his rookie-of-the-year campaign is formally in the rearview, with health restored entering this offseason program.
Daniels has proven to be an elite talent and competitor, someone capable of being a true face of the franchise. If he’s healthy, the Commanders can win any game they play (with some decent defense, of course). Yep. He’s that good.
It should be refreshing for fans to see Daniels working in top condition, making plays few others can. Let these OTAs be the start of what Commanders fans believe can be a resurgent season.
Wednesday will also be the first time we’ve heard Daniels speak in a press conference setting since last year, and his responses will make news no matter what he says.
David Blough, Daronte Jones get to work
Dan Quinn changed coordinators on both sides of the ball. It was a drastic and necessary change, one that brought new schemes to Washington.
Blough was promoted from assistant quarterbacks coach and Jones was imported from Minnesota, where he learned under esteemed play caller Brian Flores.
While we won’t be able to tell much about their respective schemes from an OTA practice with essentially no contact, it will be interesting to see how Blough and Jones run the show.
Expect some mistakes and miscues during OTAs and even into training camp, but watching these systems executed in real life should provide some hints about how the Commanders will operate, following an offseason previously shrouded in mystery.
ASHBURN, VA – MAY 8: Washington Commanders linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. speaks with linebacker Sonny Styles (52) during rookie mini camp at Commanders Park on Friday, May 8, 2026. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sonny Styles with the vets
Top 10 NFL draft picks live under a microscope. Expect that experience for No. 7 overall draft pick Sonny Styles, an elite off-the-ball linebacker who will command (sorry; pun intended) this new-look Washington defense. How quickly he absorbs and applies Jones’ scheme will be something to note as the defensive field general and lynch pin.
Styles carries the weight of great expectations despite being a rookie and but a few years removed from a position switch from safety. How fast can he pick things up and showcase truly elite athleticism? Don’t expect it right away, but watch for flashes of amazing talent in the snippets we get this time of year. Styles should be an every-down player this year, and watching him work, even this early, should be a joy.
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Who lines up opposite Terry (McLaurin)?
Receiver quality and depth might be the biggest issue heading into the upcoming Commanders season. Terry McLaurin is a proven No. 1. He’s elite when healthy and given the right opportunities.
There isn’t much proven depth after that. Antonio Williams was drafted to help remedy that problem, but third-round picks shouldn’t be an assumed quick fix. There’s plenty of talk that the Commanders could sign Stefon Diggs or add Brandon Aiyuk when/if the 49ers release him, but no formal acquisition has been made. That’s why receiver looks like a deficiency at this juncture.
It offers an opportunity for Treylon Burks to take center stage during the spring. Luke McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone during the year but should be back and active. Dyami Brown is back and Jaylin Lane should be back from injury. It’ll be interesting to see who works with the first team and how often the receivers are targeted in the early going.
Diggs or Aiyuk should be options no matter how anyone looks, but the non-McLaurin options must step up, silence doubters and prove worthy of steady snaps.
Nick Cross taking command
The Commanders defense has so many new pieces that could make a profound impact. That said, we shouldn’t be making bold proclamations about anyone on the line of scrimmage without pads on. That takes some big-ticket items, like edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, off the list.
We can see safety Nick Cross work. Keep an eye on how he runs the show, and if he calls plays. Cross can be an effective roving chess piece if Jones uses him right, and he’s an adept run defender when allowed to operate from the box.
Cross should be a steadying presence in the defensive backfield and we should take note of how he runs the ship.
What will you be looking out for? Let us know in the comments below: ⬇️
