Commanders’ Offense Still Missing Key Pieces as Season Nears

As the Washington Commanders inch closer to the 2025 season, coach Kliff Kingsbury is still waiting for his offense to fully come together.

Through training camp and preseason action, the unit has struggled. Kingsbury points to a simple reason: they are not fully healthy or available yet.

"That's a work in progress," Kingsbury said on Friday. "Until we get some of these other pieces back, we are not going to know exactly what we are. That is something we have to get to over the next three weeks."

The biggest name absent is Terry McLaurin, who remains on the PUP list with an ankle issue. While Washington insists it is an injury-related hold, it is widely understood the delay is tied to contract negotiations.

"There has not been a ton of contact with him," Kingsbury said. "He has been here, but he has been working with trainers. Until he gets back on the grass, that is when we will start building that back up."

Beyond McLaurin, the Commanders are also without both starting guards. Samuel Cosmi continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in last season’s playoffs, and Brandon Coleman has missed nearly two weeks due to a recent practice injury. Noah Brown is also trying to regain his footing after a knee injury impacted his offseason work.

"You do not have the projected top two outside receivers and both your projected inside pieces at guard," Kingsbury explained. "It is not going to really give you the chance to jell or build that relationship until you get everybody else on the grass."

The situation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, Kingsbury has not had the full offense together. This makes installing new schemes and integrating offseason additions like Deebo Samuel more challenging. On the other hand, continuity from last season gives the team a head start because players already know the system. This could speed up the process once everyone returns.

Kingsbury remains hopeful his offense will be ready in time for Week 1.

"It is just time on task. Luckily they had last year to build a lot of rapport and chemistry and Terry understands our system going into Year 2. That should expedite the process," he said. "Time on task together on the grass is really the only way you can continue to build."