Washington Commanders Face Questions About Skill Players

The Washington Commanders are facing questions about their skill players as they head into the 2026 season.

What happened to the Commanders' offense?

The team's offense was dealt a blow when veteran tight end Zach Ertz went down in the third quarter of a week 14 road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Commanders have since signed tight end Chig Okonkwo to address the lack of a true pass-catching threat.

How does the new offense look?

New offensive coordinator David Blough is expected to lean on two tight end sets in the new-look offense.

John Bates, a former fourth-round pick, fills the role as a strong blocker, while athletic 26-year-old Colson Yankoff will look to earn an elevated role.

The Commanders are currently 13th in the National Football Conference with a 6-11 record, on a L1 streak.

What's next for the Commanders?

The team will face the Philadelphia Eagles on September 13, and the outcome of this game will be crucial in determining the Commanders' standing in the NFC East.

The Commanders had a chance to draft a feature back in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Arizona Cardinals took Jeremiyah Love off the board.

Rachaad White could be the one ahead of an expected committee approach featuring a blend of power, speed, veterans, and youth.

The lack of proven production in the running back and wide receiver room could mark a question mark even with reason for optimism.

Can the Commanders' skill players improve?

The lack of a true threat aside from Terry McLaurin adds a big question mark to the team's offense.

Maybe an eventual resolution in the Brandon Aiyuk saga alters the outlook, but even with no concrete end in sight, the Niners wideout will have to re-prove himself on the field.

The Commanders enter 2026 with valid questions surrounding the weapons available to quarterback Jayden Daniels.

And with the team's next game just around the corner, the Commanders will need to find a way to address these questions if they want to succeed.

But for now, the team's skill players remain a concern.

So the Commanders will need to rely on their defense to carry them until their offense can find its footing.

The team's fans will be watching closely to see how the Commanders' skill players perform in the upcoming game.