The Washington Commanders opened their first Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practice on Wednesday, May 27, at the BigBear.ai Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia, offering an early glimpse of a team determined to build momentum heading into the 2026 season.
With quarterback Jayden Daniels back on the field, two new coordinators taking command on the field for the first time, a near-perfect veteran attendance, an upgraded defensive line taking shape, and a roster blending newly signed rookies, free agents, and key returners, the Commanders are already establishing a tone they hope will define the season ahead.
“Every year is a different year, so the standard has to be recaptured from the jump,” said cornerback Mike Sainristil. “You have to refocus yourself going into a new season –– whether you have a good year, whether you have a down year. For us, it’s just ‘how can we form the best bond possible right now,’ so that when it comes to later in the season, we’re not worried about any potential cracks in culture, we’re worried about, ‘did we have a good foundation set in the offseason?’ We’re just building those daily habits…and making sure that we put our best foot forward, each and every single day.”
Here’s a look inside the team’s first OTA Practice of 2026:
