7 Commanders quiet heroes proving heart doesn’t need headlines

There is more hype around the Washington Commanders than ever this season. The team's incredible run to the NFC Championship game last time out completely shifted the landscape. Adam Peters' aggressive offseason only surged expectations in Year 2 for head coach Dan Quinn.

It's been a solid start for the Commanders. They've had to navigate some troubling injury problems, but their win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5 was proof of how dominant they can be. With several established stars set to make their returns imminently, all signs are pointing up heading into a tough stretch of games.

This doesn't happen without a collective effort. There is immense resolve in the locker room, which has been needed to keep things trending positively amid the upheaval. Some will obviously generate more hype and column inches than others, but those flying under the radar also deserve some recognition for their outstanding efforts to date.

With this in mind, we picked out seven Commanders' quiet heroes who are proving that heart doesn't need headlines through five weeks of the 2025 season.

Commanders quiet heroes proving heart doesn’t need headlines

Dorance Armstrong Jr. - Commanders DE

The Commanders' defensive front has been a revelation so far this season. Most analysts and fans thought this could become a weak link, particularly in terms of their ability to generate pressure.

Adam Peters was always confident in the options available or those recently acquired. That wasn't an opinion shared by fans, but any concerns have been alleviated emphatically after a dominant start to the 2025 campaign.

And for Dorance Armstrong Jr., he's in the midst of a genuine breakout that nobody saw coming.

Armstrong came to the Commanders last season, following Dan Quinn from the Dallas Cowboys. He was solid, but the next stage in his development was turning his explosive pass-rushing into more productivity when opportunities arose.

He's well on course to achieve this objective. Armstrong has quietly notched five sacks so far this season, ranking joint-second around the NFL. You wouldn't know it with so much hype going to others, but the former Kansas prospect is quickly becoming a significant threat that teams have to take seriously.

These are Pro Bowl-caliber numbers. Quinn believed Armstrong had what it took to become a legitimate No. 1 defensive end. After taking time to make the transition into a starting role, the light has finally come on.

And make no mistake, it's benefiting the Commanders greatly.

Tress Way - Commanders P

There aren't many players left from previous regimes. Adam Peters moved swiftly to remove the deadwood and bring in a new era for this once-downtrodden franchise almost immediately. But there has been one constant for more than a decade who continues to perform at a high level.

Punters don't get much love around the league. They have a minimal role compared to others. But if you have a bad one, things can turn sour in a hurry.

The Commanders have had no such concerns around Tress Way. He's consistent, is revered in the locker room, and has two Pro Bowls to his name. More importantly, he's shown no signs of slowing down in 2025.

Way's yards per punt, net yards per punt, and touchback percentage are all up from his 2024 efforts. The veteran is putting 50 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line, which ranks him among the league's best.

He goes completely under the radar, but Way remains one of the team's most dependable cornerstones.

Chris Paul - Commanders OL

When the interior offensive line — the guard spots, in particular — crumbled against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football, head coach Dan Quinn had seen enough. Changes were needed, and the Commanders didn't hesitate to make adjustments in pursuit of improvements.

Andrew Wylie came in on the right-hand side at the expense of Nick Allegretti. Perhaps more surprising was left guard Brandon Coleman's demotion in favor of Chris Paul.

Nobody expected Paul to be anything more than a depth piece this season. The former Tulsa star didn't get much of a look in Quinn's first season, so it was imperative to seize what could be his final chance to make an impression.

He's done that and more. Paul's physicality against the run is significantly helping Washington's league-leading rushing attack. Couple this with his improving pass protection, and a new contract could be awaiting him next spring if the same trend continues.

Jacob Martin - Commanders DE

The Commanders' biggest positive, when most thought things would go the other way, is undoubtedly their defensive line. They have been nothing short of sensational to start the campaign, and it's truly been a collective effort from all involved.

Everyone is making a solid contribution. This was necessary when considering the long-term injuries suffered by Deatrich Wise Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, which have thrust Jacob Martin into the limelight.

He's answered the call. Martin has been a journeyman rotational piece throughout his career, but the edge threat is thriving with extra responsibilities on his shoulders. The 2018 sixth-round pick out of Temple's main strength is setting clean edges against the run, securing seven stops in 43 percent of the team's defensive snaps through five weeks.

Martin is also displaying violent tendencies in pass-rushing situations. He might not get there all the time, but his relentless effort is causing untold problems.

Tyler Biadasz - Commanders C

The Washington Commanders have endured some difficulties along the offensive line this season. This bears more significance on the interior, which prompted the coaching staff to take drastic action just two games into the campaign.

Dan Quinn changed the two starting guards. That was a massive risk at a critical early stage, but there was one glue guy holding everything together in his typically understated manner.

Tyler Biadasz won't generate the buzz of others, but his role is integral to the Commanders' chances. He's been a model of consistency so far, giving up just one sack and zero penalties. There are some flaws in pass protection on occasion, but the good far outweighs the bad.

That is a small sample of Biadasz's influence. He's an exceptional communicator pre-snap. His experience in forming chemistry with whoever is under center instantly was needed when Marcus Mariota came in for an injured Jayden Daniels. He's everything you'd want in a dependable center.

Javon Kinlaw - Commanders DL

There weren't many around the media who thought that Javon Kinlaw was worth the contract handed to him by the Commanders in free agency.

After one solid if unspectacular year with the New York Jets, his future was hanging in the balance. Adam Peters, who was part of the brain trust that spent a first-round pick on the defensive lineman in San Francisco, felt this was the perfect environment to take his game up a notch.

The Commanders outlined their supreme faith in Kinlaw with a three-year, $45 million deal that also included $30 million in guaranteed money. Analysts and fans scoffed at the figure, but the former South Carolina prospect is repaying this confidence in no uncertain terms.

A lot of Kinlaw's best work doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He's formed a dominant interior tandem with Daron Payne. His presence is helping the Alabama product reach new levels of consistency. Their physical attributes are well-suited, making it incredibly difficult for opposing offensive lines to counteract.

This looks like money well spent so far.

Trey Amos - Commanders CB

The Commanders believed they had a steal on their hands when Trey Amos fell into their laps at No. 61 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Adam Peters had a first-round grade on the cornerback, but a back issue that came up during his medical assessments was enough to put teams off.

Some are probably regretting that decision now. Amos won a starting job quickly during the summer. He's transitioned smoother than most first-year corners, displaying the physicality and accomplished coverage credentials that the Commanders desperately needed opposite Marshon Lattimore.

There have been some rough times for the secondary, but the fact that Amos is arguably the most consistent performer at this early stage of his career speaks volumes. The Ole Miss product is not making things easy for opposing wide receivers, as reflected in the eight receptions allowed and the 74.3 passer rating conceded through five weeks.