The Washington Commanders are 1-4-1 at their bye week. But there is room for optimism ahead as they hit the refresh button and face a much easier part of their schedule.
In the meantime, a few pleasant developments have emerged for a team that needs all the positive momentum it can find.
With that in mind, here are the five biggest surprises thus far for the 2026 Commanders.
Biggest surprises for the Washington Commanders at their 2026 bye week
Amik Robertson, CB
General manager Adam Peters went on a full-scale spending spree in the opening week of free agency, especially on defense, landing Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, Leo Chenal, and Nick Cross as key contributors. But the player making the most waves is the one people were initially uncertain about.
Amik Robertson didn't have a great season with the Detroit Lions last year and was signed for what was considered an overpay at $8 million per year. Now that looks like a discount.
The undersized, but high-energy corner is playing at a Pro Bowl level for Washington.
Javon Kinlaw, DL
Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw left Washington's Week 6 Monday Night Football contest with a knee injury. But before that, he had a much better season than the one that made him an albatross in the eyes of most Commanders fans.
Kinlaw has been a quality run stopper and has brought pressure in the backfield, racking up his first sack as a Commander in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. He already has as many quarterback hits as he did in all of 2025, and he's deflected two passes.
The South Carolina product might not quite live up to the $15 million per year he is owed, but he's been a solid player for Washington this year. Now we can only hope he's back on the field soon.
Treylon Burks, WR
With Terry McLaurin out for the season, the Commanders will need their other wideouts to step up. That's why Stefon Diggs is here, and that's why they drafted Antonio Williams in the third round.
But they also have another emerging role player: Treylon Burks.
The former Tennessee Titans first-round pick has caught nine passes for 152 receiving yards this season. He also put together his most productive night of the season after McLaurin left the prime-time matchup in Santa Clara.
Burks himself also got banged up late, but indications are the injury isn't too serious. He'll have a chance to build on his recent performance as the WR3 after the bye week.
Jayden Daniels, QB (post-dislocation)
When quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow yet again back in Week 2, fans feared the worst. If he wasn't out for the season, he'd miss at least some time, and he'd likely injure himself again when he returned.
After missing only two weeks, Daniels has now completed back-to-back games, and better yet, you'd never know he was hurt if not for his brace.
Say what you will about his inexplicable situational management issues this year, but he has given Washington a chance whenever he's been on the field. That wasn't the case a season ago.
Sonny Styles, LB
When the Commanders drafted Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 overall this past April, he immediately became the most important player on the team not named Daniels. Washington is trusting him to transform its defense and play at an All-Pro level for years to come.
Styles' production hasn't quite rubbed off on some of his teammates yet, but he's doing his job, despite what the clickbait merchants tried to tell us back in August. He leads the team in tackles and was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Washington's Week 3 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
The rookie sensation has been all over the field and making plays, and his ability to read opposing offenses is well beyond his years. The Commanders got themselves a good one.
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