Commanders camp reset: The "special" questions coming into focus
Jeremy Reaves and the changing face of special teams; a new name for OL competition; the tryout player to watch. Plus Sonny Styles and Kaytron Allen's impressive zero.
The first preseason game offered some answers — the days since have created a few more questions.
Washington returns to practice Tuesday with several injured players nearing a return, others still sidelined, and sharpening roster competition. Here’s where things stand coming out of the preseason opener.
QB Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL in Friday’s preseason win over Miami. Washington’s No. 2 will miss the remainder of the preseason, but head coach Dan Quinn said Sunday they are “optimistic” he could be available by Week 1.
Following a rest day, Washington returns to practice Tuesday morning.
C Nick Allegretti will return to practice Tuesday for the first time since suffering a calf strain on Day 1 of camp. TE John Bates (hamstring) is also returning.
CB Trey Amos remains sidelined with ankle/soft-tissue issues.
RB Jeremy McNichols will miss several weeks with a quad injury first reported by LMS. He sat out the preseason opener and Washington’s previous three practices. (Expect a running back signing before Tuesday. Name to watch: former Washington and Detroit back Craig Reynolds.)
The status of DT Tim Settle’s injury (calf strain), also first reported by LMS, remains unspecified after he missed the joint practice and game. Washington worked out three tackles on Sunday.
PSG1 takeaways — Kaytron Allen, Sonny Styles, OL depth, safety room, WR battles.
The Commanders next play the Lions in Detroit on Aug. 22.
The threat to Washington’s “Teams” remaining special
Whatever the issues with the 2025 Commanders, don’t blame the units coached by coordinator Larry Izzo.
Led by stalwarts Nick Bellore, Jeremy Reaves and Percy Butler, Washington’s special teams ranked third in DVOA last season, according to FTN Fantasy. For comparison, the offense ranked 23rd and the defense 28th.
Punter Tress Way received his second Pro Bowl selection. Rookie Jaylin Lane tied for the league lead with two punts returned for touchdowns. Luke McCaffrey’s 29.6-yard average on kickoff returns tied for sixth. Jake Moody settled into the kicker role over the second half of the season.
Yet the true heartbeat of the group was the coverage units. That’s also where the most significant change is coming.
Bellore, who built a 15-year career on his special teams prowess, retired this offseason after leading Washington in tackles (10, per PFF) and tying Jordan Magee for the second-highest percentage of overall special teams snaps played.
Reaves, second in tackles (9), has been the face of the Commanders’ coverage unit since receiving a Pro Bowl selection in 2022. That season, Reaves paced Washington with an 81 percent special teams snap share. That dropped to 55 percent last season as his defensive workload soared to a career-high 62 percent, Usain Bolt-ing his previous two full seasons.
Injuries elsewhere created more opportunity, but Reaves had already made a small climb up the safety depth chart. Now, midway through training camp, he is the presumptive free safety starter next to Nick Cross. It’s difficult to imagine his special teams workload increasing. Even maintaining last year’s level might be a stretch.
“He'll still have a role on teams for sure,” Quinn said. He then mentioned a hypothetical path — “two units.”
Reaves, in addition to 77 FG/XP block snaps, last season played:
Punt coverage (57)
Kick coverage (40 snaps)
Kick return (37)
Punt return (25)
that would seem whether that's two units of how we cover, what we're doing.
That’s a significant amount of experience and talent removed, at least somewhat, from all phases of special teams work. Other key contributors are returning, though maintaining the same core year over year isn’t always feasible. Tyler Owens, Magee, Butler, Colson Yankoff, Antonio Hamilton, John Bates, Ben Sinnott and Quan Martin rounded out the top 10 in special teams snap percentage last season.
Other than Butler, arguably Washington’s top special teams coverage performer last season, the other players are either amid a role change or battling for defensive or offensive snaps — if not a roster spot.
Quinn cited Owens, Butler and Hamilton as players who have stood out this summer. Owens’ tremendous athleticism pops on coverage units, and he played the most special teams snaps for Washington last season. Hamilton, a potential CB4/5 depending on Amos’ health, had some solid moments on teams against Miami.
Izzo’s units have been a strength throughout Quinn’s tenure. Keeping them that way may require finding a new generation of core special teamers on the fly.
Coming up: Internet memes besiege Jayden Daniels; an intriguing option for Washington’s unsettled offensive line, what Trey Amos’ absence could mean for the 53, and how special teams could influence the Sonny Styles-Leo Chenal competition.
