Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was seen getting hyped at the Washington Capitals-Montreal Canadiens playoff game on Wednesday. The superstar quarterback had a historic rookie season and now looks to avoid a sophomore slump in 2025. The entire Commanders’ fanbase already loves their franchise QB, and it looks like Daniels is having a fantastic time in D.C. There were several posts over social media of the reigning Rookie of the Year enjoying the atmosphere in Capital One Area. The Capitals ended up winning Game 2 of the first round 3-1, taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Huge ovation tonight for Commanders QB Jayden Daniels at tonight’s Caps game! pic.twitter.com/JvGuFiM26D
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) April 23, 2025
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Safe to say Washington overachieved last season. Coming off a 4-13 season, the Commanders entered last year’s 2024 NFL Draft with a new head coach and uncertainty at the league’s most important position. The front office then proceeded to make one of the best decisions in franchise history, selecting the reigning Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 2 overall pick. From there on out, the Commanders put together their best year of this century.
Washington finished the regular season 12-5 and then made it to the NFC Championship game. The Commanders beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Wild Card round thriller before pulling off a dominant upset over the 15-2 Detroit Lions. The season subsequently ended against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who are the standard heading into the 2025 season. Therefore, it’s going to be a fierce NFC East race in 2025 as the Commanders try to demonstrate their staying power.
So far this offseason, the front office has been focused on roster retention and bolstering the defense through free agency. However, with one of their five draft picks, the Commanders likely will select a running back. The backfield last season was solid but could use another upgrade as this team looks to shore up any potential weaknesses. Plus, this draft is a very strong one for running backs. Aside from that, Washington will likely add another edge rusher and cornerback.
Overall, this team is built to win now and contend once again for the NFC East crown. It’s a beautiful sight seeing Daniels’ passion for his new city’s sports teams. The Capitals and Commanders are the two most popular teams in the nation’s capital. When they are doing well, the whole city is.
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Being the backup quarterback isn't necessarily the most exciting role for anyone, but for a team like the Miami Dolphins, where starter Tua Tagovailoa has suffered four concussions since entering the NFL in 2020, it could be vital. As of now, a clear battle for that spot has formed between rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and veteran former first-round selection Zach Wilson as they go head-to-head. Of course, training camp is where these kinds of questions can be solved, and so far, it appears that Ewers has done a good job in putting his best foot forward. On Friday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel gave a very positive update on the young quarterback, stating, "Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers had a strong third practice of training camp. Made several impressive, big-time throws." The update sparked conversations among many fans, both supporting Ewers and a serious showing that there's interest in seeing who comes out on top. "Show ‘em, Quinn," said one comment. "He just does a lot of things (anticipatory throws, timing throws, MOTF accuracy, etc.) that fit this system much better than what Wilson does. I think with refinement and development we could have a backup in Miami that can operate the offense efficiently…finally," said another. "Love to hear it!" a third added. A fourth stated, "I'd be surprised if he's not the backup.." "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Quinn Ewers has the physical tools to stick at the next level. It’s just a matter of shaping the rest," a fifth continued. "That’s QB2 potential QB1 in the future Glad we drafted Ewers," said another. Another big test for both Ewers and Wilson will be during the Dolphins' three preseason games, as the coaching staff will get a much better look at how these two perform during live matchups. Luckily for both, though, being the backup is all they're truly fighting for, as Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports predicts that each will make the final 53-man roster, with cuts needing to be made by Aug. 27.
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit in the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
The Seattle Mariners made one of the biggest early splashes of the trade deadline season when they acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Following the news of the Mariners acquiring Naylor, it was reported that the team was still looking to acquire Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez and that the team made Gold Glove utility infielder Dylan Moore available. On the heels of the trade and the various reports and rumors that followed, Seattle made an interesting lineup decision ahead of Game 3 against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The Mariners had Naylor in the lineup to face left-handed Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson, his first start against a lefty with his new club. But it was who the M's had slotted in right field that was the most interesting. Seattle had Dominic Canzone playing right field batting eighth. This is a departure from how the Mariners have handled the position against southpaws this season. In previous games against lefties this season, Seattle has had Moore start in right. His recent struggles and the rumor he's on the trade block might mean his time in the starting lineup could be coming to an end. Canzone is slashing .292/.328/.513 with six home runs and 13 RBIs in 37 games this year. Moore is slashing .201/.264/.374 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs in 76 games this season. It's also interesting to see Canzone, a left-handed hitter, get the nod in right field over another lefty, Luke Raley. Raley entered the season as the team's starting first baseman against right-handed pitching, but has played the outfield most of his career and suited up in right field in 26 games this season. Raley is slashing .220/.343/.348 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 49 games. He spent nearly two months on the injured list from April 30-June 20 with a right oblique strain. Canzone starting Saturday could indicate the team views him in better standing at the moment over Raley and Moore, it could mean the Mariners want to give him an opportunity against left-handed pitching, or it could mean that the team is keeping Raley and Moore out of the lineup while trade conversations are going. Or some combination of all the above.
If the Detroit Tigers had to go on a slump, they arguably picked the best time. Because days before the July 31 trade deadline, their needs have never been more apparent. The Tigers (60-46) dropped their sixth consecutive game in a 6-1 loss to the AL-leading Toronto Blue Jays (63-42). Since July 9, Detroit is 1-12, the league's worst record. During that span, the offense has scored 33 runs (2.5 runs per game) with two shutouts. Batters are hitting .200 (84-of-421). On Saturday, the Tigers were 2-of-29 at the plate, with catcher Jake Rogers the only player to record a hit. The offense squandered another strong start from ace Tarik Skubal, who pitched six shutout innings, allowed five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. Detroit's extended slump has demonstrated the team's glaring need for a quality bat in its lineup. But as awful as the offense has been, a more pressing concern might be adding arms to one of the league's worst bullpens. Per Baseball Reference, the Tigers are fourth-worst in relief pitching wins above replacement (WAR) at negative-3.5. In Saturday's loss, Will Vest and Chase Lee allowed all six of the Blue Jays' runs over the final two innings. Over the course of the team's prolonged skid, Tigers relievers have a ghastly 7.72 earned run average (ERA). Detroit was, at one point this month, 25 games above .500 and holding a staggering 14-game lead in the AL Central. The Tigers still have a sizable eight-game lead in the division with the Cleveland Guardians (51-52), Kansas City Royals (51-53) and Minnesota Twins (50-53) committed to mediocrity, but for a team that once looked like the AL's crown jewel, the past two-plus weeks have been a sobering wake-up call. The front office must get busy over the next couple of days to fortify the roster. Otherwise, Detroit's strong start could turn into a mirage.