Five Most Disappointing Players To Open Commanders 2026 Season

C Nick Allegretti

After an offseason filled with noise and questions, it took all of two games until the front office opted to make a change at center. General manager Adam Peters pointed to the training camp injuries that Allegretti battled through as reason for the slow start, leading late free agent signing Lucas Patrick to replace him as the starting center in the week three win over Seattle. Allegretti has appeared at guard and is listed as the backup left guard on the team's depth chart with the hopeful starting center already demoted, leaving more questions than answers. Patrick has had flashes and proven more capable than Allegretti, who has allowed nine pressures in 2026 and graded among the worst NFL offensive linemen through the first two games.

WR Luke McCaffrey

After flashing in the offseason, the third-year wide receiver struggled to turn that into production. Some of that has been out of his hands given he was a healthy scratch in three of the first four games, though McCaffrey could get a shot to change that with Jaylin Lane now sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury.

The path for McCaffrey to impact the Commanders now presents itself either in the return or receiving game, Whether he does it is the question.

McCaffrey has yet to draw a target through six games, while he's averaged 25.4 yards across eight kickoffs so far. He nearly recorded a fumble on a punt in week six before replay review reversed the call, but still, in a prove it season, McCaffrey has yet to do that.

LG Chris Paul

After flashing in Kliff Kingbury's system, Paul has struggled in 2026. He's allowed multiple pressures and struggled in both run and pass protection, shining a light at his position as a growing concern through 2026. Paul re-signed with the organization on a one-year deal after an expected busy free agent market thinned out, but whether the Commanders should evaluate outside options in 2026 and beyond has been an increasingly viable question.

TE Ben Sinnott

After a lackluster two seasons, the former second round pick expressed confidence in his fit and potential in David Blough's offense, Sinnott's production has materialized into six yards on one catch and two targets. To put that in perspective, left tackle Brandon Coleman has seven more receiving yards on the same number of catches in 2026.

Sinnott's dependability as a secondary receiving threat has failed to materialize, leaving questions about what the road ahead looks like for the Kansas State product.

CB Mike Sainristil

The most obvious of all after entering the season with something to prove, Sainristil has proven to be the weak link in the secondary.

After getting a shot to prove himself as a nickel and outside cornerback, head coach Dan Quinn then pointed to the nickel as his best fit -- then he fell out of the rotation. The third-year defensive back helped out in the safety rotation with multiple injuries depleting the unit early on, but the results haven't shown. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 71.4% of pass attempts with Sainristil in coverage, while he's already allowed six touchdowns -- matching his total from his rookie season.

Is it still early? Sure, but the signs that Sainristil is running out of time in Washington are obvious.