Washington's defense will look plenty different in 2026 with at least seven new starters across the board, including rookie first-rounder Sonny Styles and ex-Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. They're ready to take on NFC East running backs Saquon Barkley, Javonte Williams and Cam Skattebo. However, the unit doesn't have that one superstar edge rusher and has a bunch of solid veterans to get after the quarterback. If Dan Quinn can work his magic and the secondary can come up with more than the eight interceptions it had last year, then Washington might be a decent option. But because there are so many other good DSTs out there, this is one you shouldn't draft, especially since they play the Eagles in Week 1.
Fantasy News
Commanders' Dorance Armstrong: Comes off PUP list
Rotowire
Armstrong (knee) passed his physical and has been removed from the Commanders' PUP list as of Friday.
Armstrong started training camp on the PUP list recovering from a knee injury he suffered last October, but he's now apparently back up to 100 percent. He profiles for a depth role on the edge for Washington in 2026.
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Commanders' Trey Amos: Comes off PUP list
Rotowire
Amos (lower leg) passed his physical and has been removed from the Commanders' PUP list as of Friday.
Washington was taking a cautious approach with Amos as he tended to some soft tissue soreness during the offseason, but it looks like he's now ready to get back up to full speed. If he can hang on to a role similar to the one he was in last year prior to suffering a season-ending fibula fracture in Week 10, he'll be a big piece of the Commanders' secondary in 2026.
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Tre Hawkins: Waived by Washington
Rotowire
The Commanders waived Hawkins (undisclosed) from injured reserve with an injury settlement Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Hawkins' short tenure in Washington has come to an end despite him having signed with the team in January. The 26-year-old will now shift his focus to getting healthy and look to catch on with another team.
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Commanders' Ahkello Witherspoon: Opts for retirement
Rotowire
The Commanders placed Witherspoon on the reserve/retired list Tuesday.
Witherspoon signed a deal with Washington back in March but appears to be hanging up the cleats at 31 years old. He spent the previous three seasons with the Rams, where he started all 17 regular-season games in 2023 before making seven regular-season starts across the 2024-25 campaigns. During his nine-year playing career, Witherspoon appeared in 96 regular-season contests and logged 60 pass breakups, including 13 interceptions.
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Commanders' Tre Hawkins: Reverts to Washington IR
Rotowire
Hawkins (undisclosed) reverted to the Commanders' injured reserve Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Hawkins was waived by the Commanders on Sunday and went unclaimed. The cornerback is now set to miss the entire 2026 NFL season on IR unless he is waived with an injury settlement.
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Commanders' Kain Medrano: Ready to begin camp
Rotowire
The Commanders activated Medrano (hamstring) off the active/PUP list Monday.
It was unclear when Medrano sustained the hamstring injury, but it appears that it was either a minor issue or a lingering one. The linebacker passed his physical and is all set to participate in full training camp activities. The 25-year-old will need to make a compelling case to remain part of a deep Commanders linebackers corps.
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Tre Hawkins: Let go by Washington
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The Commanders waived Hawkins (undisclosed) with an injury designation on Sunday.
Hawkins spent time last season on Washington's practice squad and appeared in just one game. The 26-year-old will revert to IR if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Commanders' Fred Davis: Activated off NFI
Rotowire
The Commanders activated Davis (undisclosed) off the active/non-football illness list Wednesday.
Davis is healthy again after spending just four days on the NFI list. The 24-year-old signed with the team as an undrafted free agent back in May and will now spend the remainder of the summer competing for a depth spot on Washington's roster.
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Commanders' Kain Medrano: Goes to PUP list
Rotowire
Washington placed Medrano (hamstring) on its active/physically unable to perform list Wednesday.
Medrano was already expected to miss the start of training camp with a hamstring issue, and he'll still be eligible to come back to practice when he's physically able. In the meantime, Ale Kaho could see increased attention at inside linebacker during practice.
Medrano will miss the start of training camp due to a hamstring injury, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
It's unclear when Medrano sustained the injury, but the issue is not considered a long-term concern. The rookie sixth-rounder is competing for a depth spot on the Commanders' 53-man roster, with special teams being his clearest path to doing so.
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Commanders' Trey Amos: Team being cautious with injury
Rotowire
Commanders general manager Adam Peters told reporters Tuesday that the team has taken a cautious approach to Amos' lower leg injury, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
"[Amos is] doing really well...Had some soft tissue soreness in the offseason so we wanted to take it slow. He should be back soon. We wanted to be overly cautious," Peters relayed Tuesday. Amos was a second-round selection of the Commanders in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Ole Miss product started in each of the first 10 games of the regular season before fracturing his fibula against the Lions in early November. Given Peters' comments, it seems like Amos will be ready to return to practice at some point during training camp, perhaps before the Commanders' first preseason game against the Dolphins on Friday, Aug. 14.
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Commanders' Nick Bellore: Retiring after 15 seasons
Rotowire
Bellore (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/retired list by the Commanders on Monday.
Bellore was let go to make room on the 90-man roster for cornerback Rasul Douglas. The special teamer is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is now calling it a career after 15 seasons. The Central Michigan product lasted that long in the NFL despite going undrafted, playing far more on special teams than defense during his career.
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Commanders' Deatrich Wise: Starting training camp on PUP
Rotowire
The Commanders placed Wise (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Saturday.
Wise missed nearly the entire 2025 campaign due to a quadriceps injury and is now dealing with an undisclosed issue to open up training camp. While there's currently no timetable for the 31-year-old's return, he will be eligible to participate in practice once healthy but will be limited to side work until then.
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Commanders' Dorance Armstrong: Lands on PUP list
Rotowire
The Commanders placed Armstrong (knee) on the active/PUP list Saturday.
Armstrong will open up training camp on the sideline as he continues to work his way back from a knee injury he suffered last October. The 28-year-old is expected to serve as a depth linebacker once healthy.
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Commanders' Tim Settle: Ready for training camp
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Settle (foot) is healthy for the start of Washington's training camp, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
Settle is finally recovered from the foot surgery he underwent in December 2025. The 29-year-old signed a three-year contract extension with the Commanders in March and is expected to serve as one of the team's starting defensive ends once again during the upcoming campaign.
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Commanders' Trey Amos: Lands on PUP list
Rotowire
The Commanders placed Amos (lower leg) on the active/PUP list Saturday.
Amos is still recovering from the fractured fibula he suffered back in Week 10 of the 2025 season. While there's currently no timetable for the 24-year-old's return, he will be eligible to participate in practice once healthy but will be limited to side work until then.
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Commanders' Trey Amos: Working toward return to practice
Rotowire
Amos (lower leg) is not participating in the Commanders' OTAs, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
Amos is present, but rather than drilling with the team, he's still rehabbing from the fractured fibula he suffered back in Week 10 of the 2025 campaign. There is still no concrete timeline for his full return to football activities, and in the meantime, veteran Antonio Hamilton could see increased work on the boundary with the first team.
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Von Miller: Planning to play in 2026
Rotowire
Miller expects to sign with a team and play in 2026, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Miller remains a free agent ahead of what would be his 16th season in the NFL, but he stated that he is "for sure" playing for somebody this season. The 37-year-old has apparently attempted to lobby current Broncos head coach Sean Payton to bring Miller back to Denver this season, but nothing has materialized quite yet. Miller is coming off of a 2025 campaign during which he played in all 17 regular-season contests with the Commanders, compiling 26 total tackles (16 solo), including 9.0 sacks, which were his highest amount in a single season since 2018.
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Eddie Goldman: Works out with Giants
Rotowire
Goldman (concussion) worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The 32-year-old missed the Commanders' final three games last season due to a concussion, but it appears he's cleared the protocol. Goldman appeared in 13 contests in 2025, recording 26 total tackles across 319 defensive snaps. If he lands with the Giants, Goldman could operate as one of the team's top rotational interior defensive linemen in 2026.
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Seahawks' Noah Igbinoghene: Headed to Pacific Northwest
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The Seahawks signed Igbinoghene to a one-year contract Saturday, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Igbinoghene is a six-year NFL veteran who has spent time with Miami, Dallas and Washington. Last season with the Commanders, he played in 15 regular-season games (two starts), registering 35 tackles (including 1.0 sacks) and five defensed passes. Igbinoghene also logged some work as a kick returner, taking seven kickoffs for 191 yards (27.3 YPR). He'll likely work in a rotational role at cornerback and serve as a depth option in the return game with Seattle.
