Daily Slop: Washington players on offense & defense go hard to impress in early non-contact work

The Daily Slop - 8 Jun 2026

Editor's note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!

Commanders linksArticles

Heavy.com

Jerome Ford applying pressure in Commanders RB battle

The newcomer turning heads is former Cleveland Browns back Jerome Ford. He continues to run hard and look impressive as a pass-catcher" during OTAs this offseason, according to Commanders.com Senior Writer Zach Selby.

Ford's progress is an unexpected bonus for the Commanders, but bad news for Croskey-Merritt. Last season's seventh-round pick can match Ford's core skill on the ground, but JCM is struggling where his more experienced rival is thriving.

Ford has an established track record as a truly explosive breakaway runner. His ability to produce big plays on the deck is summed up by a solid career average of 4.3 yards per carry, including 5.4 a rush for the Browns during the 2024 season.

Snagging 107 catches during four seasons with the Browns proved Ford's aptitude as a receiver. His use in the passing game extends beyond the numbers because Ford can be moved out of the backfield pre-snap.

Riggo's Rag

6 emerging Commanders surprises that could make doubters look foolish

Quan Martin - Commanders DB

Nobody associated with the Washington Commanders needs a report card on Quan Martin's 2025 season. Fans and even some national analysts were expecting a breakout campaign in Year 3 of his professional career, but things fell completely flat.

However, all hope may not be lost with Martin just yet.

The former Illinois star looked lost and devoid of any sort of confidence last season. Washington had to keep him in the lineup amid its injury crisis, but once people started getting healthy, head coach Dan Quinn took him out of the firing line.

Martin was projected as a trade or cut candidate this offseason. General manager Adam Peters kept faith, and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is confident he can return to his old form in a system better suited to his physical attributes.

Clues are already emerging. According to those in attendance at OTAs, the Commanders are using Martin a lot more in the nickel. This is where he played - and played well - as a rookie. Moving to the back end hasn't gone nearly as favorably, so this could be the spark that reignites his career outlook.

Commanders Wire

How bad was the Commanders' defense in 2025?

Here is a cursory look at some of the big-picture numbers for the Commanders' defense in 2025.

• Points allowed: Washington was 27th in the league, giving up 451 points in 17 games. That's an average of giving up 26.5 points a game.
• Yards surrendered: No one game up as many yards as the Commanders did in 2025. Washington finished dead last here, surrendering 6,533 yards.
• Offensive plays: The Washington defense struggled to get off the field, ranking 28th in the league and allowing the fifth-most offensive plays in 2025.
• Yards per offensive play: 6.0 yards per opponent's offensive snap. Only two NFL teams were worse, giving up more.
• Takeaways: The Commanders were next to last in the NFL, only taking the ball away 10 times. Only the Jets managed to do so less.
• First downs allowed: Only the Arizona Cardinals allowed more than Washington (No. 31).

Commanders Roundtable

Commanders LB Sonny Styles Draws Massive Crowd at Local Opening

DICK'S Sporting Goods just officially unveiled its massive, highly anticipated $10.2 million transformation into the House of Sport" concept. To celebrate the three-day grand opening House Party," the facility brought in some serious local star power, starting with Washington Mystics center Lauren Betts on Thursday, Capitals favorite Tom Wilson on Friday, and culminating with Commanders first-round pick Sonny Styles on Saturday.

The No. 7 overall pick out of Ohio State was on hand from noon to 1:30 PM to meet fans, sign autographs, and get his first real taste of just how passionate this DMV fanbase can be.

Sonny Styles made an appearance at Dick's Sporting Goods "House of Sport" in Gaithersburg.

Packed house to see the rookie.

He was really nice to everyone, including me and my wife. #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/MuOGDeijNn

- George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) June 6, 2026

The line to catch a glimpse of the 21-year-old linebacker began forming at 8:00 AM-four hours prior to his arrival-and already had over 125 people waiting for a wristband to guarantee an interaction with the team's newest Commander.

NFL.com

Brandon Aiyuk delivers message in video post, calls 49ers little-a- boys,' tells them to stop running from the bill'

In his full video statement, Aiyuk, 28, said:

We dealing with, ya know like them kids when they don't get picked for the basketball game at the court, but they the ones that brought the ball, so they like, Alright, you all don't want to pick me, I'm taking my ball, I'm going home.' Ass boys. Little-ass boys.

Or like when your kid, he got this one toy, but he don't really know how to use it correctly, so somebody else about to pick it up and play with it. And they like, Oh yeah, this s- litty.' And they like, wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on, that's my toy. Ass boy. Little-ass boy.

Man, stop running from the bill. The bill coming. You scared. They scared. Truth is, they scared. They know how I get. They gonna say, Oh yeah, BA, BA, BA did this, BA did that. BA did, you know that s-, allegedly. Allegedly. But what they not gonna say is, BA suck at football,' cause they know how I get. And they running from that bill that's on the way.

It's inevitable. It's coming. Stop running. Stop being a female dog. Stop being a little cat. Stop running from the bill."

View this post on Instagram

#49ers reportedly are considering releasing Brandon Aiyuk pic.twitter.com/sPWHjwv6HM

- NFL Rumors (@nflrums) June 8, 2026

Podcasts & videosA football conversation with @MattHarmon_BYB cohosted @Gcarmi21

Taking another look at adding a WR. Is Kayshon Boutte an option? A little analysis, also on why this group can be productive. (Hint: No 5 matters). More. @espnrichmondhttps://t.co/rh6yyyZAQ2

- John Keim (@john_keim) June 8, 2026

#Commanders have not expressed interest in trading for Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, per @BenStandig. pic.twitter.com/ydSIjELBFf

- brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) June 8, 2026

NFC East links

Blogging the Boys

Cowboys left tackle battle fuels unnecessary panic

Do the Dallas Cowboys already have some controversy at one of the most important positions on their roster? That was the question on people's minds after head coach Brian Schottenheimer informed everyone that Tyler Guyton will need to earn the starting left tackle position, competing with fellow third-year tackle Nate Thomas.

The job of protecting Dak Prescott's blindside isn't something they'll just hand over willy-nilly, so the table is set for this year's first position battle. This has created a little uneasiness among the fanbase. Is a first-round investment slowly falling out of the good graces of the Cowboys' coaching staff?

Fansided

Eagles could use a second-round supplemental pick on Brendan Sorsby

There are some serious concerns about Sorsby's gambling problem, especially as it was revealed how frequently he placed bets on Indiana games while on that team. But two GMs told me they think he's grabbed in the supplemental draft if he is deemed eligible. Both are under the impression that the Eagles have done a lot of work on him, and they believe this very much could be Jalen Hurts' final season as the starter there.

I think Howie grabs him in the second round," one GM said. He's getting a one for (receiver A.J.) Brown. I don't think he's scared to do it, and the stuff you hear about them being willing to move off of Hurts, that's real." Good enough for me.

NFL league linksArticles

Too Deep Zone

Kevin O'Connell plays guidance counselor to Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy

Poor Kevin O'Connell. Vikings mandatory minicamp doesn't even start until Tuesday, yet he already sounds so weary.

KOC is trying to conduct a sham quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy before naming Murray the starter after the first preseason game in August. He's doing so to save organizational face, preserve the last shreds of McCarthy's dignity and perhaps keep Murray from mentally wading into a Twitch stream. Unfortunately, no one is willing to play along.

You heard the soundbites last week, and the reactions to them. Murray is trying to portray the seasoned, philosophical journeyman, but he learned everything he knows about leadership from Call of Duty cutscenes. McCarthy sounds like a grad student ready to storm out of a history lecture because he disagrees with the professor about the Avignon Papacy. Carson Wentz, who combines the worst personality and quarterbacking traits of Murray and McCarthy, is also hanging around Vikings headquarters.

McCarthy's snippy comments went viral, as snippy quarterback comments always do, particularly in May. Poor KOC had no choice but to douse the bonfire.

The Vikings quarterback room is a roiling quarter-life crisis. KOC is so totally not mad about it that he can't stop talking about how not-mad he is. And there's no way he's wishing he got fired with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah so he could be the Rams assistant head coach instead of Kliff Kingsbury right now, pouring Matthew Stafford's coffee and explaining to Ty Simpson what a Mike linebacker is.

Every Vikings source with boots on the ground in Mankato is suggesting, if not outright stating, that Murray is far ahead of McCarthy. Anyone who ever watched football will likely agree that the Vikings' job is Murray's to lose, with the caveat that Murray is perfectly capable of losing a job.

Fansided

Andy Reid's final season? NFL insiders make bold predictions for 2026

You hear these rumblings every few years, but I'm starting to pick up on them again recently about Reid thinking he's running out of gas. And for all the people who have told me at this point that Big Red will keep coaching until he shatters every record there is, the people who whispered that maybe 2026 is it have a pretty damn good track record on such hunches.

The Athletic (paywall)

As Bears take a step closer to Indiana in stadium dance, fans just want it to end

So, it looks like the Chicago Bears are moving to Hammond, Ind. Or perhaps it's another bluff in this interminable game of stadium poker.

Maybe the answer is somewhere in the middle. They're seriously looking into moving to a new state, unless, you know, they get a better offer to stay in Illinois.

[M]ost people aren't chuckling at this story anymore. They just want it to end, regardless of where the team plays. The Bears actually have a good team, and this is dampening fans' enthusiasm. We talk football to get away from politics.

Whether you live in Whiting, Ind., or Lake Forest, Ill., you don't care about the supposed unifying power of a stadium. If you're a Bears fan, you want to see a winning team, and if you're a season ticket holder, you'd probably also like a better stadium experience than Soldier Field. (Although the sight lines are very underrated.)

Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, tells me that Bears President Kevin Warren called him this morning and told him they were putting out the statement about moving forward in Hammond. But... Cunningham added this: "He also said he looks forward to continuing discussions with me."

- Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) June 5, 2026

The Chicago Bears are not necessarily moving to Hammond, Indiana. The deal isn't done + there's an extensive NFL review process before it could happen. But don't expect litigation to block the team from relocating, either.

I break down key legal issues: https://t.co/1ZNFC8d7WG.

- Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) June 6, 2026

World Cup

Pro Football Talk

With World Cup looming, SoFi Stadium workers vote to authorize a strike

According to the Wall Street Journal, via Sports Business Journal, roughly 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium voted overwhelmingly" to authorize a strike. The walkout could occur at any time."

Union officials have, per the report, indicated that the U.S. men's national team's opening match against Paraguay on June 12 would be an opportune moment" to exercise their right to initiate a work stoppage.

aBit o'Twitter

pic.twitter.com/Gqly2NlHg7

- Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 7, 2026

The Commanders hired Geoff Kaplan as their new senior director of player health and performance. He takes the place of Tim McGrath, who had the same title the last 2 seasons.

Kaplan was with the Texans from 2009-25, most recently as their executive director of player health.

- Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 8, 2026

We have named Marco Ingelmo and Janice Pettyjohn as our 2026 Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellows

- Washington Commanders (@Commanders) June 8, 2026

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett plans to report to minicamp this week despite a contract impasse with the team, sources tell @joshweinfuss and me.

How much he does on the field remains uncertain.

Brissett is due a $4.9M salary and wants a raise. pic.twitter.com/zQUfkZU74W

- Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 8, 2026

Here's another Aiyuk video, again, from 10 months ago. H/t @rochaser1967https://t.co/4WAUWERrcH

- David Harrison (@DHarrison82) June 7, 2026

The Storm's 60-yd touchdown was wiped away after the Defenders successfully won the challenge

Defenders-Storm on ABC and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/4LUaLp7VHX

- NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 7, 2026

THE DEFENDERS STOP THE STORM ON 4TH & GOAL

Watch DC Defenders-Orlando Storm on ABC and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/DHTJzJ61UL

- ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2026

Andre Mintze took PTO from his day job and came out of retirement for the DC Defenders' playoff run pic.twitter.com/Ysybr1PEx5

- ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2026

WE'RE GOING TO THE UNITED BOWL pic.twitter.com/zP7FDDcRuC

- DC Defenders (@UFLDefenders) June 7, 2026

No doubt in my mind that Matt McCrane deserves to be on an NFL roster.

The DC Defenders kicker completes his third four-point play of the season by nailing a 61-yard field goal

Had room to spare too.#UFL#SemifinalSundaypic.twitter.com/PCKUzygA9A

- P.W. McDonnell (@burdknowsball) June 7, 2026

Louisville Kings + DC Defenders within hours of each other punched their ticket to the Championship game with 60+ yard field goals.

If NFL teams have kicker issues, they shouldn't. Just snag some of these guys (Just like Brandon Aubrey)

Cash pic.twitter.com/PbKcQUML5E

- Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) June 8, 2026

The United Bowl matchup is set

Who's taking the UFL crown this year? pic.twitter.com/jeHpPoev6i

- ESPN (@espn) June 8, 2026