3 unexpected Commanders twists that could define the 2025 season

The Washington Commanders are sitting with an even record of 2-2 after the first month of the 2025 season. They've alternated home wins and road losses, beating the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders while falling to the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons.

Hopes were high for the Commanders after winning 12 regular-season games and reaching the NFC Championship during the previous campaign. It's still too early to tell how this campaign will shake out for Washington, but a few major storylines have emerged as the calendar flips to October.

Storylines changing the Commanders' narrative through four weeks

Commanders injury crisis

All eyes at the start of the year were on Washington's second-year franchise signal-caller, Jayden Daniels, who put together one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in NFL history a year ago. In 2025, he's played in only two games, in which he was solid but unspectacular.

The Commanders' offensive performance in Week 2 against the Packers was one of the worst of the Daniels era. To make matters worse, he was diagnosed with a knee sprain following the game.

Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown and tight end John Bates are additionally on the shelf, and running back Austin Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles in that same Week 2 contest. Right guard Sam Cosmi has also been out all year with a torn ACL, though a return looks likely soon.

Daniels is back under center against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, and all things considered, the offense held its own with backup Marcus Mariota in his place. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year now needs to return to form quickly.

Everybody was wrong about the Commanders' defense

Over the offseason, the consensus was that Washington would feature a strong cornerback room and linebacking corps, but the defensive front was a concern. Through four games, it's been the exact opposite.

The pass-rush has been solid, and the Commanders haven't been gashed by opposing running backs the way they were last year. At least, not until Bijan Robinson had his way in Week 4.

On the other hand, Bobby Wagner's limitations have become more apparent with age. Frankie Luvu was concerningly invisible until Week 4. In the defensive backfield, it's been even worse.

The Marshon Lattimore trade appears to be a bust. Young players such as Mike Sainristil and Quan Martin have underperformed after strong finishes to the 2024 season. Jonathan Jones and Will Harris will both miss extended time with injuries, leaving Washington's depth extremely thin. Second-round rookie corner Trey Amos has at least shown some promise.

Adjusting to a new normal doesn't happen overnight

To everyone who penciled in the Commanders as one of the NFL's top regression candidates for 2025, get your victory laps in while you can.

The fact of the matter is that when a team is supposedly disappointing 2-2 after four weeks, with both losses closer than both wins, winning is now the standard. That hasn't changed.

It's a reality that Commanders fans should get used to: for the bulk of the past 25 years, a Dan Snyder-shaped black cloud has hovered over the franchise. Even on the rare occasion that the team managed to stumble into a decent season, everybody knew that true forward momentum was nearly impossible to come by, given the organizational dysfunction that ran from the top down.

Now, it's the opposite.

The Commanders are building a new culture that should promote sustained success over time, and they have the right people — Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn, general manager Adam Peters, and majority owner Josh Harris — in all the most crucial positions. However, the higher the expectations, the tougher it is to meet them.

After being ahead of schedule last season, Washington's patience is being tested by the harsh reality of this adjustment. The only way forward is through.