2025 Washington Commanders Training Camp Preview: Will McLaurin Show, and Can the Defense Bounce Back?

The NFC East is loaded with storylines as 2025 training camps open, but few teams have more pressure — or promise — than the Washington Commanders.

Coming off a 12-5 season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game, Washington heads into camp with high expectations and some key questions. Let’s break it down, Man Hour style.

Commanders 2025 Training Camp Breakdown

2024 Record: 12-5Rookies Report: July 18Veterans Report: July 22Location: OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park (Ashburn, VA)

Notable Offseason Moves

Key Additions:

• WR Deebo Samuel

• OT Laremy Tunsil

• CB Jonathan Jones

• S Will Harris

• DL Javon Kinlaw, Sheldon Day

• Edge Deatrich Wise, Jacob Martin

• WR Michael Gallup

• K Matt Gay

• QB Josh Johnson

2025 Draft Picks:

• Josh Conerly Jr. (OT, Oregon) – Round 1

• Trey Amos (CB, Mississippi) – Round 2

• Jaylin Lane (WR, Virginia Tech) – Round 4

• Kain Medrano (LB, UCLA) – Round 6

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB, Arizona) – Round 7

Notable Departures:

• DL Jonathan Allen

• WRs Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder, K.J. Osborn, Olamide Zaccheaus

• CB Benjamin St-Juste

• S Jeremy Chinn

• K Austin Seibert

Preseason Schedule

• Week 1: at Patriots – Friday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 PM ET

• Week 2: vs. Bengals – Monday, Aug. 18 at 8 PM ET (ESPN)

• Week 3: vs. Ravens – Saturday, Aug. 23 at Noon ET

Schedule Note: Washington closes the 2025 regular season with four straight NFC East division games. That stretch could define their playoff hopes.

Top Storylines Heading Into Camp

1. Will Terry McLaurin Report?It’s the elephant in the locker room. Star receiver Terry McLaurin skipped OTAs and minicamp as he pushes for a new deal. He’s entering the final year of his contract at $23.2 million and currently ranks 17th among WRs in average salary — behind new teammate Deebo Samuel. McLaurin, a two-time Pro Bowler and leader through the Snyder-to-Harris transition, wants to get paid like the face of the franchise.So far, no deal. And no confirmation he’ll be in camp. The longer this drags out, the more it could disrupt a red-hot offense.

2. Jayden Daniels is the Future — and the Present.Daniels is coming off a breakout rookie campaign and the front office made it clear they’re building around him. They added a physical wideout in Deebo Samuel and gave Daniels a franchise left tackle in Laremy Tunsil.Samuel has already turned heads in workouts, and while there’s online noise about him losing a step, players in that building say he’s electric. How his role evolves in camp — as a pure wideout or a hybrid — will be one to watch. Tunsil? Pencil him in as Herbert’s blindside anchor. No debate there.

3. Can the Defense Hold Up Its End?Washington’s defense fell apart late last year — none worse than the meltdown in Philly when they gave up 55 points and nearly 500 yards.Joe Whitt Jr. and Dan Quinn are under pressure to flip that script. Jonathan Allen is out. Kinlaw, Day, and Goldman are in. CB Benjamin St-Juste is gone, but they added Trey Amos through the draft and signed vet Jonathan Jones to pair with Marshon Lattimore, who struggled to stay healthy after arriving midseason.This camp is make-or-break for the defensive identity Quinn was brought in to establish. Because if the D catches up to the offense, the Commanders could be knocking on the Super Bowl door again.