標籤: Washington

The Washington Commander can’t imagine a season being any worse than last year. Losing your franchise quarterback to injury for 10 games is sure to derail any team’s season, so it’s no surprise to see the Commanders go from a team that won 12 games in 2024 to a team that won only five in 2025.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters has been working tirelessly throughout the offseason, building a roster that head coach Dan Quinn can win with. Still, there could be two more impactful additions now hoping to take their talents to DC

Recently, All-Pro brothers Stefon Diggs and Trevon Diggs answered a question about “how long will it take them to wear the Commanders jersey”. “That’s what everyone’s talking about right now. We’ll talk about it soon though,” Stephen said in his response via TikTok’s michaelsad.

Stefon Diggs and Trevon Diggs were asked how long it would take to wear them out #commander Jersey:

Stephen: “That’s what everyone’s talking about right now. We’ll be talking about it for real soon though.”

(🎥: michaelsade via TikTok) pic.twitter.com/F3YpuuQsoZ

– Brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) 19 May 2026

The Commanders need the receiver and cornerback positions, so unloading both could provide significant upgrades on both sides of the ball. Stephen is coming off another strong effort, his seventh 1,000-yard season of his career.

Meanwhile, cornerback Trayvon is having a down year and will likely sign at a much lower rate than Stephon. Trayvon played only nine games last season before his release, eight in Dallas and one in Green Bay.

He has only played 22 games since the end of the 2022 season, meaning Trayvon has a lot to prove. Still, joining his brother in DC could be just the kind of change of atmosphere the Maryland native needs to get moving again.

Together, the Diggs brothers can be impact players on both sides of the ball, helping the Commanders return to the playoffs after a down year.

RELATED: 4 Best Stefon Diggs Landing Spots After the NFL Draft

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Last year, the Washington Commander’s leading receiver was Deebo Samuel with 727 yards and five touchdowns. But now the 30-year-old is a free agent.

The Commanders’ next leading receiver was Terry McLaurin, who had 582 yards and three touchdowns, but was limited to only 10 games due to injury. While the Commanders selected Antonio Williams in the third round, there is no guarantee the rookie will contribute immediately. So, how will Washington replace Samuel’s production?

Sports IllustratedAlbert Breer recently suggested the Commanders sign free agent receiver Stefon Diggs. It may help that Diggs is a DC native. However, as Breyer noted, several other teams may be interested in the four-time Pro Bowler.

Now that teams can sign free agents without impacting their 2027 compensatory pick formula, we may see the market heat up for starters like Diggs.

Last season, Diggs made a significant impact in New England, recording 85 receptions for 1,013 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He could make a similar difference in Washington, and he might even be able to add his younger brother, cornerback Trevon Diggs, to the mix. Dan Quinn was Diggs’ defensive coordinator in Dallas for three seasons from 2021 to 2023.

Together, the Diggs brothers could help the Commanders in their quest to return to the playoffs this season.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings after Aaron Rodgers rejoins the Steelers

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Now that the 2026 NFL Draft has ended, teams can continue to fill out their rosters with undrafted free agent signees and other veterans who still have not signed contracts for the upcoming season. This also includes the Washington Commanders, who entered the three-day event with a total of six selections.

As expected, the Commanders still have some needs to address after a disastrous 2025 season that ended with only five wins. Still, as all teams do, the Commanders have a list of players they want to add to the roster.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs have “significant interest” in signing wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk from the San Francisco 49ers.

The point is, the 49ers have not released Aiyuk. San Francisco’s front office strongly prefers to trade the two-time 1,000-yard receiver. Yet, until now, no one wanted to offer anything of value to the 28-year-old, who wasn’t able to play a single snap last season due to a knee injury.

It also doesn’t help that Aiyuk is in just the second year of a four-year, $120 million contract. Teams first want Aiyuk to be able to prove he’s healthy before taking on a $13.6 million cap hit for a player who wasn’t available last season.

Thus, teams are playing the waiting game, hoping the 49ers feel like they have no choice but to release a player who finished as a second-team All-Pro in 2023.

RELATED: 6 best 2026 NFL draft classes including the Bills and Browns

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The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is just hours away, and there is plenty of intrigue over what the Washington Commander could do with the seventh overall selection. After missing the playoffs and seeing their offense and defense decline massively, it is safe to say that the Commanders need help on both sides of the ball.

Still, Washington only has six draft selections overall, and moving up the draft board may not be an option for Commanders general manager Adam Peters. However, that’s probably not what head coach Dan Quinn wants to hear, as he reportedly has his eye on a special talent for his defense.

According to NFL insider Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, Coach Quinn “loves” Ohio State linebacker Sonny Stiles. Still, he says Washington “knows they need a WR and they’ve done a lot of work on Ohio State’s Carnell Tate.”

Both are expected to be in the top-10. Styles, even though he is a linebacker, could be a top-five selection, meaning Washington will have to move up to reach target Quinn Cowets.

As for Tate, it seems more realistic for him to fall to seven, but there is some discussion that Cleveland could select the Ohio State receiver at No. 6. However, finding a franchise for a tackle could influence their decision, leaving Tate to Washington instead.

Either way, it appears the Commander is entering Thursday night with an open mind, which is what you need to do when there are six other teams making selections before Washington.

RELATED: Final 2026 NFL mock draft: Projecting Round 1 with trades

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The 2026 NFL Draft begins next Thursday, April 23. That’s when the Washington Commanders, barring a trade, will use the seventh overall pick in the first round on one of this year’s top talents.

Many draft experts expect commanders to target a prospect at a specific position, such as edge rusher, receiver, or defensive back. However, there are other talented prospects who could also come into play.

According to NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, the Commanders also “love” Notre Dame running back prospect Jeremiah Love.

A lot of teams are big fans of Love coming into the draft. He is the top ranked player on many draft boards. The problem is that only one team will be able to acquire him and Love may not slide down to seventh, where Washington is slated to be selected.

The Commanders only have six selections in the NFL Draft, meaning they don’t really have the draft capital to move for Love unless Washington is willing to part with players and/or future draft compensation. Love is expected to be a top-five pick, but there are several teams that want him to slide a little further and it looks like Washington is one of them.

RELATED: NFL Draft Rumors: Latest Intel on Washington Commanders Round 1 Plans

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The Washington Commanders have the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, putting them in a strong position to land one of this year’s blue-chip prospects. As draft day approaches, more details are emerging about what Washington could add in Round 1.

In his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, ESPN.com’s Peter Schrager shared his belief that the Commanders will look to add to their defense in the first round. However, just because it doesn’t have value doesn’t mean it will happen with the seventh overall pick.

That’s because Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Washington is one of the teams actively trying to move down from their current spot. The idea, of course, is to land a potential high-end starter from Round 1 as well as gain additional draft capital.

If Washington were to trade down from seventh overall, it’s possible a team like the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9 overall pick) or the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10 overall pick) would want to move up from the New Orleans Saints to acquire the lead.

Trading down would likely give the Commanders an additional draft pick on Day 2, potentially giving them a Week 1 starter at defensive back or someone who could eventually play a meaningful role in the season.

The Commander could hypothetically move down from the No. 7 pick to the No. 9-12 range and still land All-American safety Caleb Downs, LSU cornerback Mansur Delaney or potential Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Reuben Benn Jr. However, given the number of teams that want to go down, it will be difficult to complete a deal.

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Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters is busy preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, which begins on April 23. While free agency gave coach Dan Quinn’s team a chance to fill immediate needs with proven players, the draft gives commanders a chance to add potential stars for a fraction of the cost. With a little luck, Commander might even add a franchise cornerstone or two.

Still, even though the upcoming draft is the main focus for many front office executives, commanders are still being linked to other moves for veteran players.

Specifically, the latest report from ESPN’s 49ers insider Nick Wagner suggests that the Commander remain the “most likely landing spot” for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Still, it is not that simple.

Aiyuk, a former second-team All-Pro pass-catcher, is still under contract in San Francisco. They are working hard with him, hoping a team will table a trade offer for the 28-year-old. Meanwhile, other teams are hoping the 49ers will eventually release Aiyuk, feeling like he’s not worth the current $14.6 million cap hit for 2026 after missing the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury. Additionally, Aiyuk has a very bad contract through 2027, where he has a ridiculous cap hit of $41.4 million.

As for the Commanders, while they may really like the idea of ​​reuniting Aiyuk with his college QB, Jayden Daniels, at Arizona State, they are in no rush to part with draft compensation to do so. It appears that if Washington adds Aiyuk, they would prefer to do so on his own contract terms rather than the terms set by San Francisco, and no longer want to commit.

RELATED: Washington Commander tied for Speed ​​Freak with No. 7 pick in NFL Draft

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The Washington Commanders can’t run away from the fact that they gave up the ball last season. While injuries played a major factor, the players who were healthy did not live up to the standard set in 2024, when Washington reached the NFC Conference Championship.

The good news is that the Commander’s poor season made them a blue-chip prospect with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. In about two weeks, the Commanders will add a potential star talent to the roster. So, who can Commander add?

Recently, Essential Sports’ NFL insider Tony Pauline used his intelligence to predict what the Commanders might do with their first-round selection. In doing so, he said that LSU cornerback Mansur Delaney “could be drafted as soon as the seventh pick.”

However, Pauline also warned that Delaney could be a target of the Kansas City Chiefs, who have the ninth overall pick in the first round. Of course, if DeLeon is truly the Commander’s top target, the Chiefs will have to leapfrog Washington, but Kansas City also has the 29th overall pick to use as ammunition.

Delaney is viewed as the best cornerback prospect in the draft class, and he solidified his position after completing a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s viewed as a potential top-15 pick, so Washington selecting him at seventh could certainly be in play, as Poulin hinted at.

RELATED: Washington commanders urged to target All-Pro defender

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The Washington Wizards found themselves on the defensive after an April Fools’ Day prank during their game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, which drew serious reaction from fans and commentators alike.

In the skit, three contestants attempted to make a shot at half court while blindfolded for a $10,000 prize. The host instructed the crowd to cheer wildly as if the last contestant had succeeded, even if the ball was missed.

The host said, “It wouldn’t be Gee-Wiz’s April Fool’s Mania without a little bit of fun. Not saying they wouldn’t make it, but I think the first two might miss out.” “The last contestant, we’ll pretend the ball went in the basket. So as soon as it hits the ground, go crazy like they just won $10,000.”

Be happy, they did it. Everyone got into a lather, and one fan was cruelly duped into thinking he had won a big cash prize.

The Wizards tricked a fan into thinking he won $10,000 in an April Fools’ prank by pretending to hit a half-court shot while blindfolded 😭 pic.twitter.com/MZEfAiGZKM

– FearedBuck (@FearedBuck) 2 April 2026

Wizards apologizes after viral April Fool’s prank leaves fan thinking he won $10,000

Who in Blue Hell, in the corporate offices, gave the green light to that joke? What a magician you are.

Critics, including former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill, called the targeting of a fan who paid good money to watch one of the NBA’s worst teams “disgusting.” Others called it insulting and tone-deaf, with some comparing the fan’s apparent frustration to a scene from the Batman film.

The reaction was terrible. And Wizards issued an apology, claiming everyone involved was in on the joke.

“We apologize for last night’s April Fools’ joke that left many people wondering if we misled any fans,” the team said. “This play, involving our mascot and other members of our performance team, was scripted and intended to celebrate this day.”

“All participants were in on the joke, but we missed the mark. Our fans are our priority, and we are committed to providing a positive experience for everyone attending our games.”

Read more:

Well, that explains why fans were such a good sport about this stupid prank. He apparently also got himself a signed jersey and some courtside seats for next season.

Great. This means he’ll be able to see what many would consider a huge joke – the Wizards – up close and personal.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Overhauling the defense has been a central theme this offseason for Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Considering that Dan Quinn’s team stumbled to a 5-12 record after winning 12 games a year ago, it’s a good thing Washington is busy making upgrades.

While the Commanders have upgraded every level of defense, this roster still has more room for improvement. There is still one All-Pro defender waiting to be signed in free agency.

Recently, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport suggested the Commanders should sign cornerback Trevon Diggs. The 27-year-old finished last season with the Packers, but played just one game before being released this offseason.

“At this point in free agency, there are no sure things left, especially at a premium position like cornerback,” Davenport wrote. “But cap space is not an issue in Washington, the team still needs help at corner and there is no player at a higher-caliber position still looking for work than the 27-year-old.”

Now free to join any team of his choice, the one-time All-Pro hasn’t been able to find an immediate fit. Still, surely some teams will take the chance on the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback returning to peak form with a change in landscape.

One reason Diggs is taking his time is to make sure he can be as healthy as possible after battling injuries in Dallas that limited him to just eight games before his release on December 30. After recording an NFL-high 11 interceptions in 2021, Diggs’ career has cooled off considerably, but he still has 64 games of starting experience.

With Washington aiming to return to being a playoff contender in 2026, acquiring someone with star potential like Diggs at a low price is exactly the type of risk the Commanders should take.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

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Entering the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commander are not rich with draft compensation. In fact, they only have six picks overall heading into this year’s three-day event in Pittsburgh. However, although the Commanders may not have many picks, they do have a very good selection in the first round with the seventh overall pick.

Commanders have spent a large portion of free agency addressing various concerns on defense. That effort could continue at the top of the NFL Draft, where Washington will be able to add blue-chip talent to the team. Or, maybe they’ll go in a different direction to make an already dangerous offense even more powerful.

recently, athletic‘Commanders insider Nikki Jhabvala suggested that if star Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love is still available when Washington is on the clock at 7, Washington “will have no reason to hesitate in grabbing him.”

We cannot argue otherwise. Love, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, has the potential to be one of the best players in the draft class. He is someone who can exude aggression as soon as he steps on the field as a rookie.

Pairing one of the NFL’s best overall weapons with dual-threat QB Jaden Daniels, an elite runner who also has extreme YAC abilities as a pass-catcher like Love, should have defenses shaking in their boots. Still, most projections have Love off the board before the Commanders arrive in time, and it’s not like DC has the type of extra draft capital to get him if Love is a top target.

But hey, dreaming is fun, right? Perhaps there is a scenario where the unexpected happens. We see it happen every year, where a top prospect either falls away or teams make surprise decisions near the top of the draft. Anything is possible, maybe even Love will don the commander’s uniform at the end of April.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft after the first wave of free agency

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Washington Commander-One of the greatest players in Redskins history is returning to the field for the first time in 24 years, and it’s all in an attempt to win Olympic gold in 2028.

In two years, the Olympics will return to the United States for the Los Angeles Summer Games. And for the first time, American football will be among the games played. However, it will not be traditional tackle football and will instead mark the debut of flag football as an Olympic sport.

This week, national team tryouts are taking place in Chula Vista, California, and one of the athletes vying for a spot on the USA Soccer roster is a Hall of Famer. The Associated Press reports that Washington Commanders veteran Darrell Green will be one of the players competing in the tryouts.

What makes this news so interesting is that the seven-time Pro Bowler’s 66th birthday is just a few weeks away. And the last time he played in an NFL game was in 2002. However, Green will go down as one of the greatest cornerbacks in league history because he was a freak athlete with epic speed, and it looks like the senior has some left in the tank.

“Darrell qualified through our digital combination. He’s later in his career than other testing participants, but his testing results were impressive,” Kelly Brownson, senior director of high performance and national teams for USA Soccer, told the AP. “Our coaches and staff felt he deserved a closer look. … He is a rare athlete who has remained in shape and is ready to compete this week.”

Green went viral in 2024 after a video surfaced showing how good the 64-year-old athlete was still when he took some high school players under the tree of learning in a training session. Furthermore, this is the same guy who ran a 4.2 40 yard dash in 2000 at age 40.

If there was any player who could surprise USA Soccer officials and earn a spot on the team, it’s Darrell Green. It also helps that some current NFL stars will be taking part in flag football’s Olympic debut.

The corner played all 20 of his NFL seasons in Washington, and is their all-time leader in games played, interceptions and defensive touchdowns. He was the first inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Following a disappointing season, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters addressed several areas he has heard criticism for. Some of the team’s biggest weaknesses suddenly had answers.

This was especially true at edge rusher with Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson both aboard. Leo Chenal arrived to provide stability at middle linebacker. Nick Cross and Amick Robertson help shore up the secondary.

Still, apart from tailbacks Rachad White and Jerome Ford and tight end Chig Okonkwo, Washington hasn’t done much to address an offense that averaged 7.6 fewer points per game than last year.

One area that could still use a boost is at wide receiver, where Deebo Samuel has seen his contract expire. The Commanders have signed both Van Jefferson and Dymie Brown, but neither of them solve what the team didn’t have last season.

Another prospect the Commanders have been linked with on multiple occasions is former second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk. Nevertheless, he is still under contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

ESPN’s John Keim takes it a step further, reporting that the Commanders are “well aware” of Aiyuk’s “desire” to play with his college quarterback Jayden Daniels. But this is not so easy.

“An interesting name could be San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk,” Keim wrote. “Multiple team sources said Washington is well aware of Aiyuk’s desire to play alongside Daniels. But Aiyuk is still under contract and the Commanders would be unlikely to trade for him or sign him to anything other than a one-year prove-it deal when he becomes free.”

The 49ers are essentially playing hardball here, knowing that Aiyuk and Commander will be trying to unify. Still, while we’ve seen teams hesitant to release past stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, or Tyreek Hill, the 49ers are unwilling to do the same with Aiyuk. As yet.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are apparently unwilling to trade anything of real value for a player who missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury. It doesn’t help that Aiyuk still has three seasons left on his four-year, $120 million contract.

Obviously, the Commanders don’t want to pay that price for a player who has had 374 yards and zero touchdowns the last two years. The 49ers also do not want to release Aiyuk outright. If so, they would face $29.5 million in dead cap fees.

Thus, unless the 49ers or the commanders back down from their stance or perhaps meet in the middle, it doesn’t look like this situation is going anywhere in the near future. As a result, commanders may find they have no choice but to make other plans at the receiver position.

RELATED: Washington Commander showing NFL Draft prospect ‘a lot of love’

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Since the offseason officially began, the Washington Commanders have been one of the busiest teams in free agency. He has focused firmly on upgrading a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed, but has also grown the offense. There may be more on the way.

The San Francisco 49ers are in “no rush” to part ways with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Still, it’s good to be gone. Schefter believes the 49ers are still hopeful they will receive some type of trade offer for the former second-team All-Pro.

The 49ers are playing the waiting game, hoping a team will get desperate enough to make a bid for Aiyuk, even if it’s a small trade return like a late Day 3 draft pick. Still, it’s better to get something than nothing for the 27-year-old receiver.

It’s also possible the 49ers saw the writing on the wall, and believe Aiyuk is waiting for a chance to join his old college quarterback Jayden Daniels in Washington.

As ESPN’s Nick Wagner recently pointed out, “Washington makes a lot of sense.”

“He played with Jaden Daniels in college,” Wagner wrote. “They’re very close. I’m sure Jaden Daniels would love to play with Brandon Aiyuk again, but I don’t think the 49ers are in a rush to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, even though we know they will eventually.”

Aiyuk did not play a snap in 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in 2024. Still, with the Commander seeing as Deebo Samuel’s contract expires this offseason, there’s no doubt they could use another pass-catcher in DC and if Aiyuk is healthy he could be a good fit.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft After NFL Free Agency Negotiation Window

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

We’re less than 24 hours away from when teams can start talking in NFL free agency. The Washington Commanders, who boast more than $80 million in salary cap space, are expected to be especially busy.

After a disappointing 5-12 season, the Commanders could be aggressive, and take advantage of Jaden Daniels playing under a rookie contract. Recently, the Commanders released former Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, Commanders can get closer to a significant upgrade than their former starting point.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Commanders could “heavily pursue” free agent center Tyler Linderbaum. That is, if Linderbaum doesn’t first agree to re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens.

“Should he not re-sign with the Ravens, there is an assumption among teams that the Commanders will heavily pursue C Tyler Linderbaum in free agency,” Schultz wrote. “Washington recently released its starting center Tyler Biadasz.”

Linderbaum, a three-time Pro Bowler, is widely viewed as the best center available this offseason. He would be a big signing for a Commanders team that saw its offense slip to 22nd in scoring after finishing fifth in 2024.

Linderbaum arrived in the 2022 NFL Draft as the 25th overall pick. He has started all 66 games since being selected in the first round, missing only two games due to injury in 2023, but still earned Pro Bowl honors for his performance.

Pro Football Focus ranked Biadas 11th among centers last season. Linderbaum ranked 5th best as a run blocker (4th best) while posting very strong marks. Linderbaum is expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid center ever, with a salary of $20 million per season.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections ahead of NFL free agency

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Trae Young finally made his long-awaited debut for the Washington Wizards during Thursday night’s clash with the Utah Jazz.

Young is in the eighth season of his NBA career, his first with the Wizards. He began the 2025–26 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks before they traded him to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

Injuries have limited Young’s availability this season, appearing in only 10 games while he was with the Hawks. When healthy, he stands out as one of the league’s best guards, shining with his playmaking and shooting skills.

Washington remained patient during Young’s recovery, as he eventually played his first game against Utah. It didn’t take long for him to score his first bucket, driving to the rim to loft a shot off the glass and put it past the hoop.

Trae Young scores his first point as a member of the Wizards ♂️🪄

pic.twitter.com/v5eywUHRUv

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 6 March 2026

Trae Young, how the Wizards played against the Jazz

Trae Young shined in his Wizards debut, but it was not enough as they lost to the Jazz 122–112.

Seven players, including Young, scored in double figures for Washington in the loss. His debut ended after 19 minutes of action, finishing with a stat line of 12 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals. He shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. Julian Reese led the way with 18 points and 20 rebounds, Bilal Coulibaly came next with 17 points and three steals, Leaky Black had 16 points and three rebounds, Trey Johnson put up 15 points and eight rebounds, while Will Riley added 13 points and three assists. Meanwhile, Anthony Gill contributed with 10 points and three rebounds.

Washington fell to a 16–46 record on the season and finished 13th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers while trailing the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.

After suffering seven consecutive losses, the Wizards will be looking to bounce back in their next match. They are on the road when they face the New Orleans Pelicans on March 8th at 7pm ET.

Head coach Brian Keefe is excited about Trae Young’s debut with the Washington Wizards in Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

Keefe discussed who stands out According to Ben Strober of Locked On Wizards, he raved about Young’s play before the guard’s Wizards debut.

Keefe said, “I’ve played against him for many years. This guy makes other guys better. We see his own scoring ability, his ability to draw free throws, his ability to get into the paint.” “I think his best skill has always been his passing.”

Keefe was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder during the first two seasons of Young’s NBA career. Keefe also coached against Young for an additional two seasons during his time with the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Wizards’ coaching staff in 2023.

“This guy makes other people better…his best skill has always been his demise.”

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe meets with Trae Young ahead of his debut tonight

(via @strobersports)pic.twitter.com/xWOYYRd6dC

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 5 March 2026

Young will make his Wizards home debut in Thursday’s matchup.

Trae Young is set to make his Wizards debut

After nearly upsetting the Rockets in a 123–118 loss, the Wizards’ third-year guard Bilal Koulibaly led the way with 23 points on 9-16 shooting, including five threes. Wizards fans are excited to see Young paired with Koulibaly before his debut against the Jazz on Thursday.

According to Joshua Valdez of ClutchPoints, Koulibaly recently talked about the reason for his offensive streak for the Wizards.

“Just getting more reps, getting out there more,” Coulibaly said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

Koulibaly scored a season-high 23 points in the Wizards’ 123–118 win against the Rockets. He is averaging 10.4 points on 41.3% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.

Although Trae Young has not played a game for the Wizards yet thrown out during Lost 123-118 to the Rockets last night. Late in the third quarter of the game, there was a brief skirmish between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason that led to the game being stopped. While Young did not involve himself on the field, he walked off the court as it was happening, causing him to be ejected.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Although ejections do occur from time to time and are used as both punishment and deterrent to prevent situations from escalating, it is not every night that a passive player is ejected. It is also rare for a player who is not a good fit for a team to be dropped. As a result, questions arose as to whether Young would be punished for the ejection. According to NBA insider Mark Spears, he’s in the clear.

“I’ve been told that no further discipline is expected from the league office for Washington’s Trae Young after he was ejected for ‘running on the court’ in Monday night’s game against Houston,” Stein said. He said Young’s highly anticipated debut as a member of the Wizards will come Thursday when the team faces the Utah Jazz.

Young has only played 10 games this season due to injury, but is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists as well as one steal per game.

The Washington Wizards pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the trade deadline when they acquired star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. Young has yet to make his Wizards debut as he continues to recover from injury, but that’s about to change this week.

Trae Young is on track to return from injury and make his Wizards debut on Thursday for the team’s home game against the Utah Jazz, the star guard announced via his podcast, ‘From the Point.’ Young had been battling knee injuries this season, and was already sidelined when the Hawks traded him.

Young has been limited to only 10 games this season, and the last time he suited up for the Dawgs was on December 27 when he played a little more than 31 minutes in the Hawks’ loss against the New York Knicks. Since then he has missed 29 consecutive games.

In the 10 games that Young appeared in this season, he averaged 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.0 steals, including 41.5 percent shooting from the field, 30.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 86.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Young played his entire career so far with the Hawks. Now in his eighth season in the NBA, the four-time All-Star is hoping to be part of the Wizards’ turnaround after a rebuilding few years.

Young wasn’t the only big acquisition the Wizards made at the deadline. The team also acquired star big man Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks, who complemented Young with an elite threat in the paint and around the basket. With the Wizards’ current young core, the team appears poised to take a step forward next season.

The Washington Wizards have been in full tank mode lately, with several players, including trade acquisitions Trae Young and Anthony Davis, sidelined with reported injuries. The Wizards are pushing all of their chips into the center of the table to try to secure the top draft pick, and as a result, some lesser-known players are getting a chance to showcase their skills for the remainder of the season.

One of those players is rookie Jamir Watkins, and on Thursday, it was revealed that the Wizards will be committed to the young guard long-term.

“The Washington Wizards are signing two-way guard Jameer Watkins to a new two-year contract. Watkins has averaged 13.2 points and one steal over his last six games,” CAA Sports agents Drew Morrison and Sam Rose told ESPN.

Watkins was drafted by the Wizards in the second round in 2025 after finishing his college career at Florida State. While Watkins is big by rookie standards at 24, he has still displayed an interesting skill set during his play with the Wizards so far, as well as the ability to defend on the perimeter, which will be an area of ​​significant need for the team heading into next year.

Washington is hoping to re-enter the playoff mix next season, as they will look to add a blue-chip prospect from the 2026 draft to pair with Young, Davis, center Alex Sarr (who is currently out of the lineup) and some of their other interesting young players.

In a weak Eastern Conference, that core could be enough to turn the Wizards into a formidable team for the first time in nearly a decade.

In any case, the Wizards will next take the field on Thursday against Young’s former team, the Atlanta Hawks.