Commanders Qb Athan Kaliakmanis All-22, 16 Injuries & Bill’s Rap Song - Daily Slop

The Daily Slop – 21 August 2026

Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!

Commanders links

Articles

ESPN

Commanders till need to see their run game evolve

All offseason, the two words heard most from those who know Daniels well were these: “Locked in.” The result has been a standout camp. He impressed Miami’s coaches in the joint practice, both during one-on-one drills and in full-team work, with his accuracy.

It helps that Daniels has a full complement of receivers, unlike last summer, when Terry McLaurin was holding in. Another wideout expected to help, Noah Brown, was injured most of camp. The result: an offense that lacked any rhythm. Daniels’ season was then derailed by multiple injuries, limiting him to four full games.

But the question will be whether the Commanders can generate a consistent run game. Against Miami in the joint practice, they were more effective throwing the ball. In the preseason opener, rookie running backs Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. combined for 160 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

But Washington managed just 10 yards in four carries by Allen in the first quarter. Sometimes it was the block; other times it was the run. Regardless, Washington needs this area to develop.

Quinn said the run game on both sides of the ball is not yet where it needs to be. But he’s not surprised it’s taking longer on offense.

“That’s to be expected,” he said. “But we’re making progress. The combinations, the speed off the ball, we’re not where we will be, but I would say in terms of the targeting of where we’re going to, who’s blocking who, we’re making progress.”

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Sports Illustrated

Commanders Injury Report: 15 Players Dealing With Injuries Ahead of Lions Game

Rachaad White joined Washington’s growing injury list Thursday, while Dan Quinn also provided updates on Trey Amos, Nick Allegretti, and Johnny Newton

[This was published prior to report of Daron Payne suffering a minor injury on Thursday]

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

The Athletic (paywall)

Washington Commanders camp observations: Injury list grows, the plan for Detroit and more

As of Friday morning, at least 15 Commanders are confirmed to be recovering from or still working their way back from injuries. (Teams are not required to report injuries until Week 1 of the regular season.)

The majority of Washington’s injuries aren’t believed to be long-term issues. Coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism earlier this week that Mariota will be available for Week 1. Payne’s injury, which was not disclosed, is believed to be minor. But as the list grows, concern follows.

The disappointing [2025 season] prompted the Commanders to overhaul many aspects of their operations and personnel, but it also shaped Quinn’s approach this year. Even during the offseason program, he tried to give players with the least experience more reps so he could get a better sense of the team’s depth and just how much the backups could handle.

The plan for Detroit

Quinn said “a good amount of starters will get some playing time” on Saturday in Detroit. He declined to say who or how much, but noted that many of the 26 players who sat out the preseason opener against Miami will get more looks this weekend. Whether that includes quarterback Jayden Daniels remains to be seen.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Sports Illustrated

3 Overreactions From Day 14 of Commanders Training Camp

Overreaction No. 2 — Washington Is Back to Square One at Center

For clarity, Allegretti returned to practice this week only to experience more calf tightness and get pulled. After seeing Good-Jones against Miami’s defensive line, we can all agree it is not a good idea for him to take the field against the Philadelphia Eagles and those monsters on the interior they have in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. This discussion is no longer about whether Allegretti can play the position; it’s about whether he has taken enough practice reps to make the calls and build chemistry with the offensive line.

One thing to remember: this isn’t the same type of shutdown that Allegretti got at the beginning of camp. This came with clean imaging of his calf and a word from the coach that they plan on reevaluating the situation Sunday. This overreaction carries a bit more truth value: Washington absolutely needs Good-Jones or another option ready to function as a legitimate Plan B because Allegretti hasn’t been available consistently enough to assume everything will suddenly stabilize. Washington is not back to square one yet, but the center position remains unresolved until Allegretti can stack practices instead of simply returning for one at a time.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

From Commanders Roundtable:

Matt Gulbin stuck out in his first unofficial NFL appearance where he gets a chance to potentially build on that after Dan Quinn confirmed the rookie will draw snaps at guard to evaluate his positional versatility along the interior offensive line. Julian Good-Jones, meanwhile, has drawn the bulk of snaps in Allegretti’s absence while the team added a pair of depth pieces in camp after inking Daniel Brunskill and Trey Hill.

The question isn’t about depth anymore — it’s at the top of the room. While head coach Dan Quinn and players have raved about the IQ and leadership of Allegretti, becoming an impact NFL center over a 17 game span is a question mark. And after suffering a pair of injuries before playing in any game action, whether Allegretti can last the full season is a growing question.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Commanders.com

Training camp notebook | ‘A good amount’ of Commanders starters will play vs. Lions

There has been significant speculation on whether the Commanders will play their starters against the Lions, and Quinn did provide an answer. He said that “a good amount of starters” will get some playing time, although who will play and how much is still being determined by the staff. Jayden Daniels is one of the players Quinn is unsure about, saying that he will make a decision once he knows about the health of everyone else around him.

On the decision about who will play in the preseason, Quinn said it will be determined on a player-by-player basis rather than an entire group in terms of which positions could benefit more from getting action against the Lions. While he said he’s interested in seeing positions like the receivers and cornerbacks, he wants to see what certain players do with the opportunity to get more snaps in a game scenario.

There has been some debate on how much time the Commanders’ players should get in the preseason and whether their workload is worth the risk of injury. There is certainly value to it; not only do the Commanders have a new scheme on both sides of the ball, they also need to go through the act of tackling, running plays and other routine actions in a game. Quinn would like to get his players as many snaps as possible, but he and the team like to customize according to each player’s needs as much as possible. The most important angle they consider is whether the amount of work each player gets is the most beneficial to their development.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)

Commanders Film Review: Athan Kaliakmanis vs Dolphins

Rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis quietly had a good outing for the Commanders in their preseason opener against the Dolphins last Friday. He completed six of his 10 passes for 87 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, but he was also sacked twice. It was clearly a better performance than Sam Hartman, who completed eight of 15 for 80 yards with an interception.

Kaliakmanis finds himself in a battle with Hartman for the third quarterback spot. There’s been some question if the Commanders would even keep a third quarterback on the active roster, or just roll with Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, knowing they could probably get one or both Kaliakmanis and Hartman to the practice squad. But Mariota’s injury in the Dolphins game makes it likely the Commanders opt to keep a third quarterback just in case Mariota isn’t ready for the regular season opener.

Mariota’s absence also means Kaliakmans has a great opportunity. With Mariota not practicing for the rest of preseason and the Commanders opting against adding another quarterback right now, there’s more reps on offer for both Kaliakmanis and Hartman. But can Kaliakmans win those reps and earn the job over Hartman? Based on his performance against Miami, I’d say he has a good chance.

Commanders Roundtable

Commanders Bubble Watch: RB Robert Henry Jr

For an undrafted free agent fighting for one of the final spots on the 53-man roster, special teams value is paramount. Henry showed promising flashes in that phase during his NFL debut against Miami.

He provided an impressive kickoff return, bursting past the 30-yard line before a holding penalty brought it back. His skill as an open-field runner could be an asset and increase his likelihood of making the team. Henry handled kickoff returns in high school, but UTSA rarely used him there because he was their feature back.

Schematic Fit in Washington’s Offense

In David Blough’s offensive system—which emphasizes a zone-run scheme and slashing ability—Henry presents an intriguing skill set behind starters Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and power back Kaytron Allen.

Henry Jr. is an intriguing option as a depth piece and practice squad candidate. But can he be more? He displayed patience and poise in his NFL debut, allowing his blocks to materialize before making sharp lateral jump cuts to explode through the hole.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Riggo’s Rag

7 Commanders newcomers already validating Adam Peters’ offseason vision

K’Lavon Chaisson – Commanders OLB

The Commanders needed to bolster their pass-rushing unit this offseason. And though big-money signing Odafe Oweh gained the headlines, it already looks like K’Lavon Chaisson can have a huge impact on how Washington approaches things defensively.

Chaisson bet on himself with a one-year deal this offseason. He was offered longer-term security by the New Orleans Saints, but the 2020 first-round pick out of LSU believed Washington was the best possible fit to get a much bigger payday next year.

Based on early impressions over the summer, he might be right.

It didn’t take long for Chaisson to impose himself as a starting option opposite Oweh on Daronte Jones’ 3-4 defensive front. He’s put together a tremendous offseason, and even though he is currently dealing with a knee issue, it isn’t expected to be serious.

All signs point to Chaisson making a significant difference when the regular season arrives. And if he can take his breakout campaign with the New England Patriots last season onto the field for Washington, the Commanders are going to benefit greatly.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Commanders Wire

5 position battles to watch for Commanders vs. Lions

Last cornerback spot

It sounds like cornerback Trey Amos is progressing toward a return. So it’s safe to assume that Amos, Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson and Rasul Douglas are Washington’s top four corners. While the Commanders could keep four, five seems more likely given the injury questions surrounding Amos. The top contenders are two over-30 veterans: Antonio Hamilton Sr. and Fabian Moreau. Hamilton stands out. He did last season when he had the chance to play. He’s around the ball, and he’s terrific on special teams. Moreau was signed over a week into camp and has been solid. Either player would be an ideal fifth cornerback, considering their experience. These final two preseason games are huge for both players.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

If you didn’t know, now you know

Last Man Standig (paywall)

How a rap song fits the Bill — and teaches an old reporter new tricks

A post-practice conversation with Jacory Croskey-Merritt took an unexpected turn, much like the running back’s NFL career

The song’s name is why I stumbled upon this particular 137 seconds of music: “Jacory Croskey.”

Bill explained that the rapper was “just showing love. That’s my dog. He’s actually a cool dude, and it was cool for him to name a song after me.”

Not only did he name the song after one of Montgomery’s newest success stories, but Bill said his voice is woven into the opening bars. He got a kick out of hearing the song before its release — with his name as the title — and having someone randomly send him the track earlier this week.

Bill’s “song” is a single by hip-hop artist “Cut Onkill” that has been top of mind ever since I stumbled across it earlier this summer. With me covering the entire Commanders team and Washington’s top back in high demand, I never had the chance to bring up the topic away from others.

For more from Ben Standig, click here

Podcasts & videos

The District Film Room: Deeper Look at Week 1 of the Preseason Film with Mark Bullock & Nick Akridge

Training Camp: Johnny Newton, Nick Allegretti; Frankie Luvu Interview | John Keim Report

NFC East links

Bleeding Green Nation

Really wishing we’d seen THIS A.J. Brown in 2025

Last year, we did not see this version of Brown, especially as the 2025 season wore on. Over his last four games, Brown averaged 57.2 yards per game, culminating in a disastrous performance in the Birds’ NFC Wild Card loss to the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field, 23-19, in which he caught just three passes for 25 yards and had multiple drops and one screaming match with his head coach.

Last season, Brown looked slower and less athletic. It was fair to wonder if age, even though he’s just 29, was catching up to him.

In these two joint practices, those thoughts seem ludicrous.

The offense was not good under Kevin Patullo, and the faults of the offense were obviously not all Brown’s fault. But as the season wore on last year, Brown simply stopped winning the one-on-one battles we had grown accustomed to seeing him win. He appeared worn out, tired, slower, and uninterested.

Watching him turn back the clock two years on the practice field this week makes me wonder what the offense could have looked like with a motivated Brown on the outside.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Blogging the Boys

Nearing the end at Oxnard for 2026

Oxnard is just about done for the Cowboys. Soon enough they will head to the desert for their second preseason game, this one against the Arizona Cardinals. Then they will return home and continue “training camp” at The Star before hosting the New Orleans Saints in the preseason finale. Hopefully that exhibition contest is nothing like the joint scrimmage as both teams were recently fined $500k for all of the fighting that they did throughout.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Big Blue View

NY Giants-Miami Dolphins joint practice: ‘Rules of engagement’ will be in place

John Harbaugh wants players on both teams to protect each other

I asked Giants head coach John Harbaugh, a veteran of many of these situations, if there was a way a head coach could try to keep his players safe during a situation where he isn’t in charge of every player on the field.

Welcome to the ‘Rules of Engagement’.

“We’ll have rules of engagement, we’ll call it,” Harbaugh said. “Talked to Coach Hafley. He talks to his team. We talk to our team. We have the same rules of engagement.”

Harbaugh said those rules will include, and probably emphasize, that defenders getting anywhere the opposing quarterback is strictly verboten.

“It’ll be the same that we use in our practice. It’ll be probably more to the quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll emphasize protecting each other’s quarterbacks even more, because as soon as somebody gets close, and the other team’s going to talk about getting close, and we can’t have that, nobody can get close to the quarterback. That’s going to be a major point of emphasis.”

There will be other rules of engagement.

“We’re going to stay off the ground, and we’re going to be looking for no blindside shots of any kind. We’re not looking for that,” Harbaugh said.“ It’s a front-up tackle. That’s kind of a front-up type of thud, wrap you can do, but it won’t be side shots and things like that. That’s the goal.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Malik Nabers won’t participate in joint practice with Dolphins

Nabers, on the comeback trail from a pair of surgeries to repair a torn ACL, just began participating in a handful of team drills this week. He has been wearing a red, non-contact jersey.

Nabers will travel with the Giants to Miami, but won’t take part in team drills on Thursday or play in Saturday’s preseason game.

The Giants want to get Nabers involved in some degree of physicality in a controlled practice setting before exposing him to defenders on other teams.

“He won’t go through the rest of the summer in a red jersey,” Harbaugh said. “No, he’ll be out of a red jersey before he plays in a game. He’s going to have to get bumped around and hit and fronted up so he knows how to, you just have to feel that and know how to deal with it to protect yourself.”

That just isn’t going to happen in Miami.

NFL league links

Articles

Front Office Sports

Arctos Adds Stake in 4th NFL Team With Falcons Deal

The private equity firm—which already owns stakes in the Chargers, Bills, and Browns—is buying a 10% stake in the Falcons

Private equity firm Arctos is adding a fourth NFL team to its portfolio through the reported purchase of a 10% stake in the Falcons. The deal values the franchise at $10.6 billion.

The agreement, first reported by CNBC, adds the Falcons to an Arctos portfolio that already includes the Chargers, Bills, and Browns. 

The deal means Arctos can buy stakes in only two more NFL teams, as the league caps the number of franchises a PE firm can invest in at six. The maximum-size stake a PE firm can buy in an individual team is 10%.

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

Discussion topics

Too Deep Zone

Meet Over-30 Singles Near Ashburn, Virginia!

The Commanders signed running back Craig Reynolds earlier this week. Reynolds backed up Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery for the Lions from 2023-25. Before that, he backed up D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. He started his career in Washington, before they even became the Football Team, backing up Adrian Peterson and others.

Reynolds turned 30 years old in June, which made him eligible to play for the Commanders, who don’t trust anyone under 30.

The Commanders signed Reynolds to replace Jeremy McNichols, who is sidelined for a few weeks with a quad injury. McNichols is also 30 years old. Replacing one 30-year-old deep-bench running back with another is like replacing a flat tire with another one. But Commanders general manager Adam Peters doesn’t seem to know anyone under 30. It’s like he stopped reading scouting reports, or even listening to the radio, when he left the 49ers three years ago.

[Note from BiB: Craig Reynolds, of course, is most likely to end up on the team’s practice squad. The Commanders top-4 running backs appear to be Bill Croskey-Merritt (25), Rachaad White (27), Kaytron Allen (23) and Robert Henry Jr (24), which would be an average age for the position group of 24.75. I imagine doing that level of research was beyond the scope of Mike Tanier’s schtick.]

The Commanders fielded the oldest team in the NFL last year, with a Snap-Weighted Age of 28.2 years. While jettisoning aging stars like Bobby Wagner, Von Miller and Zach Ertz made them younger, my degree in math tells me that adding lots of 30-something bit players isn’t going to lower that 28.2 figure. Adding Diggs is one thing. Loading the bottoms of depth charts with guys who used to back up Adrian Peterson is another. 

I only count eight undrafted rookies on the Commanders camp roster, including kicker Drew Stevens, who just won the job from Jake Moody. (Hooray!) The Eagles, who won the Super Bowl two years ago (lots of veteran backups with rings) and selected 18 rookies in the last two drafts, have nine rookie UDFAs. The Patriots, who reached the Super Bowl last year, have 16, including two on IR. Successful franchises churn UDFAs on the bottom of the roster to get younger and cheaper, find hidden gems and foster competition for jobs and roles. The Commanders are adding comfort binkies instead.

Let’s see what happens during roster cutdowns. The Commanders should get rid of many of the 30-somethings on their bench in favor of younger players cut loose by top contenders with deep benches. If they don’t, it’s a sign that their self-scouting and internal quality control is faulty. Peters and Dan Quinn must prove they can identify and develop players who are better than the geezers hanging around the waiver wire in midsummer. If they don’t, well, Peters and Quinn’s 2024 success only earned them so many mulligans. 

To read more of this article, CLICK HERE

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