​The Washington Commanders’ 2025 season disrupted the momentum they built in 2024, when they advanced to the NFC Championship. In 2025, however, the team managed only five victories, a drop that largely traced back to a brutal injury landscape and the specific players sidelined. That decline is part of why many experts and analysts across the league approach predictions about Washington with caution. Yet one outlet advises not to overlook the Commanders. Pro Football Sports Network’s Jason Katz appeared on the Football Debate Club podcast and identified Washington as the league’s biggest sleeper.
“There’s no debating Washington’s 2025 season,” Katz stated. “It was a disaster.” The Commanders began the year with a string of alternating wins and losses through the first five games, then endured an eight-game losing stretch, and their playoff hopes were extinguished with a Week 14 shutout at Minnesota. The season wound up 5-12, finishing third in the NFC East. On the surface, that record could justify a full rebuild, but a deeper look reveals more about what went wrong.
The truth lies more in the injury report than in the talent evaluation. “But were they as bad as their 5-12 record might suggest?” Katz asked. “I say no.” This is a sentiment we’ve echoed at Commanders Wire throughout the offseason. The 2025 campaign does not define what the team will be in 2026. The injuries were not only numerous but also pointed to specific, impactful losses. Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Austin Ekeler, Dorance Armstrong, and Zach Ertz were among the most significant players sidelined. Ertz and Ekeler are no longer with the team, but Daniels, McLaurin, Armstrong, and others remain on the roster. When you factor in the roster moves and coaching changes this offseason, it’s clear that the Commanders entering 2026 will not resemble the 2025 version.
Predicting how a season will unfold requires more than looking back at a single year. Context matters. Yes, the 2025 campaign was disappointing, but that does not automatically portend another poor season in 2026. If Daniels and McLaurin stay healthy, the defense undergoes further revamping, and new coordinators bring a fresh approach, the Commanders could rebound in ways few anticipate. There’s a belief among some observers that Washington has been underestimated, and those who ignore this possibility may find themselves surprised as the team works to reestablish itself as a competitive contender.
This perspective is part of a broader discussion about the Commanders’ potential trajectory in 2026, a narrative that suggests the team’s fortunes can swing significantly with health, stability, and a new strategic direction. The injury-riddled 2025 season should be viewed as a hurdle rather than a definitive obstacle, and the groundwork laid by this offseason movements could position Washington to reclaim the form that made 2024’s playoff run possible. In short, the Commanders’ 2026 outlook is not doomed by last year’s record; rather, it hinges on a combination of player availability, roster adjustments, and coaching decisions that could reassemble a team capable of contending again.