The Washington Commanders have much to ponder after their Week 1 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. For fans, clear signs of the team's dynamic finally emerged after the franchise showed almost nothing during the preseason.
Trust has to be earned. The Commanders have a lot at stake this season, and heads will inevitably roll if they cannot turn things around. That means half-measures are no longer an option, and anyone not pulling their weight will quickly fall down the pecking order.
Reading between the lines, here is our first Commanders trust index entering what already looks like a season-defining Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
- How the Commanders' trust index works
- The alphas
- The mainstays
- The fast risers
- The proving ground
- The slipping grip
- The afterthoughts
How the Commanders' trust index works
We consider many factors when evaluating the new trust index. It considers performance levels and snap counts. It also considers comments from the head coach and any mitigating circumstances, such as injuries.
Trust can waver from week to week. That's the nature of the NFL, and the Commanders are no different with everything on the line this season.
Let's get to it...
The alphas
Jayden Daniels, QB
The Commanders will only go as far as Jayden Daniels takes them this season. The quarterback took a while to get going in Week 1, but his fourth-quarter performance was highly encouraging. If he can put this sort of consistency together for an entire game moving forward, Washington will be in pretty good shape.
Terry McLaurin, WR
Despite being blanketed by the Eagles, wide receiver Terry McLaurin is an alpha in every sense of the term. The Commanders need to get him more involved, and moving him around more wouldn't be a bad idea. But the Ohio State product looks healthy and explosive, which is a positive indicator that the numbers will follow.
Amik Robertson, CB
The Commanders struggled in the secondary, but Amik Robertson was a shining light. He allowed only one reception for three receiving yards and looked assured in coverage. The same couldn't be said for everyone, but this was a definite positive for the veteran to build upon as he looks to become a legitimate starting option on the boundary.
Nick Cross, S
After a standout first summer in Washington, Nick Cross carried that into the regular season. He barely left the field, made his tackles count, and set the right tone for others to follow. If this is a sign of things to come, the Commanders will have a steal on their hands with the cost-effective free-agent acquisition.
Odafe Oweh, OLB
A big price tag comes with lofty expectations. That is the pressure Odafe Oweh is facing this offseason, and based on his first showing, he looks more than capable of meeting it. There was a lot to like about his burst off the snap, getting Jalen Hurts off his spot almost constantly and giving Washington's pass rush the juice it desperately needed.
Sam Cosmi, OL
While the offensive line's struggles are well documented, Sam Cosmi has no such concerns. The right guard was exceptional against the Eagles, handling Jalen Carter with ease in their one-on-one matchups. More importantly, the former Texas star looks fully healthy after a frustrating 2025 season.
Tress Way, P
Punter Tress Way had a busy afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. And even though the three-time Pro Bowler stated before the campaign that this would likely be his final season with the Commanders, he remains the model of consistency when his number is called.
The mainstays
Josh Conerly Jr., OT
Washington's right-hand side of the offensive line looked fairly comfortable against the Eagles. Second-year tackle Josh Conerly Jr. was a big reason, showing improved movement and technique after working exceptionally hard on his craft over the summer. With Laremy Tunsil missing, he needs to keep this up.
Jeremy Reaves, S
While Jeremy Reaves' on-field consistency was questioned, the Commanders still trust him fully. The veteran safety played 100 percent of defensive snaps, which shows how highly Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones value him. But unless he becomes more assured in coverage, that might not last much longer.
Daron Payne, DL
It's a big year for Daron Payne. The defensive lineman is looking for a lucrative new contract after Adam Peters stood pat this offseason. He's an integral part of the team's plans, and if he can turn his pressures into sacks more often, a productive season won't be far off.
K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB
Despite nursing an injury late in the summer, K'Lavon Chaisson didn't look like he'd lost any explosiveness against the Eagles. His tandem with Odafe Oweh looked promising, and with another week to get right before taking on the Dallas Cowboys, fans can expect much more from the free-agent signing in the weeks ahead.
Stefon Diggs, WR
Despite a bone-headed decision to celebrate using the goalpost after scoring his first touchdown for the Commanders, Stefon Diggs had a decent debut. There were a couple of targets that he would like to have back, but the four-time Pro Bowler proved useful as a viable option for Jayden Daniels as the Eagles focused most of their attention on Terry McLaurin.
The fast risers
Sonny Styles, LB
All eyes were on Sonny Styles as the Commanders' prized rookie linebacker got his first taste of regular-season action. He was eager to silence the laughable doubters who surfaced during the preseason, and the No. 7 pick achieved that goal with a unique combination of anticipation, instincts, and otherworldly athleticism.
Antonio Williams, WR
Though rookie wideout Antonio Williams was brought along gradually in Week 1, the Commanders may not be able to keep him hidden for much longer. The gifted pass-catcher came alive when the stakes were highest, scoring his first NFL touchdown and giving the Eagles' accomplished secondary a hard time down the stretch.
Charles Omenihu, DL
Compared to the Commanders' high-profile signings this offseason, Charles Omenihu's arrival went relatively unnoticed. But based on his encouraging outing in Philadelphia, the versatile defensive lineman can add juice to the rotation if he stays healthy.
Tyler Owens, S
Gaining national headlines was probably not on Tyler Owens' bingo card before Week 1. After a phenomenal contribution to special teams, that's precisely what happened. It came as a bit of a shock to the Texas Tech product, but it's another sign that his elite athletic traits and relentless mindset can be a massive asset to the Commanders this season.
The proving ground
Brandon Coleman, OT
With Laremy Tunsl out until further notice, Brandon Coleman has to provide assurance on the blindside. There were a few difficult moments in pass protection, but things could have been a lot worse. Good for him.
Leo Chenal, LB
When Frankie Luvu left the game early with a hamstring injury, most envisaged free-agent signing Leo Chenal to step in and fill the void. Instead, Daronte Jones used him sparingly with 42 percent of the team's defensive snaps. That indicates a lack of trust right now, but there is still time for that to change.
Chris Paul, OL
Chris Paul remains a tricky evaluation. The Commanders had no choice other than to keep him at left guard after Laremy Tunsil's injury, but there were obvious cracks in his performance against the Eagles. Surprisingly, those cracks showed up in pass protection, which was a real strength last time around.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt got lucky in Week 1 when Washington recovered his fumble. However, he didn't see the field again after that, which is a telltale sign that a lot of hard work lies ahead for the second-year pro to firmly establish himself as the long-term backfield leader.
Drew Stevens, PK
As expected, Drew Stevens had a rollercoaster afternoon at the office. The rookie kicker drilled a 55-yarder, missed another attempt, and had an extra point blocked by Jalen Carter's massive hand. His Kicker Value Added was among the league's worst at -2.33, but the Commanders need to ride the ups and downs that will inevitably come.
The slipping grip
Mike Sainristil, CB
Dan Quinn doesn't typically call out his players in public. That is a last resort to potentially light a fire under them, which was the approach he took with cornerback Mike Sainristil after a woeful outing against the Philadelphia Eagles. The leash may be shortening, and with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb up next, nothing but significant resolve will suffice.
Nick Allegretti, OL
Gambling on Nick Allegretti as the starting center was a massive call for Adam Peters this offseason. His disrupted summer did nothing to push the general manager to find a better contingency plan, but Washington immediately signed Lucas Patrick after his subpar effort against the Eagles. The gauntlet has been thrown down.
Dyami Brown, WR
Dyami Brown made the roster. He was active over others on opening day. Unfortunately, the wide receiver couldn't secure any of his two targets and has trouble creating separation. If that sounds familiar, it should, given it's how the North Carolina product fared for most of his first four years in Washington.
Tim Settle Jr., DL
Most projections had Tim Settle Jr. starting as the nose tackle in Daronte Jones' system. He ended up splitting these reps with journeyman veteran Shy Tuttle in Week 1. While this may have something to do with the time he missed over the summer, it's something for fans to watch as the season unfolds.
Quan Martin, DB
Quan Martin's summer had an air of redemption. The Commanders gave him another shot, and he deserved his place on the 53-man roster. Playing 38 percent of snaps in Week 1 and failing to build momentum was a step back for the player in a contract year. And there is no more margin for error.
The afterthoughts
Ben Sinnott, TE
Chig Okonkwo left the game with a hamstring injury, which was a blow. But if Ben Sinnott thought this would be the springboard to more reps on the offensive rotation, he was out of luck. After bold claims over the summer, David Blough didn't feature him prominently, highlighting where he truly stands in the pecking order.
Luke McCaffrey, WR
In arguably the most surprising move, Luke McCaffrey was a healthy scratch against the Eagles. This confirmed fans' suspicions that he was right on the 53-man roster late in the summer, and not even his eye-catching production as a kick returner last season was enough to get him involved.
Treylon Burks, WR
The same goes for Treylon Burks. He was also a healthy scratch, despite doing enough for a new contract after joining the Commanders during the 2025 campaign. When he'll be active is anyone's guess, but with Dyami Brown failing to make an impact, that could be sooner rather than later.
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