In the 237 days since last season ended, the Commanders have overhauled their systems, replaced their play callers, and changed some of their coaching staff and much of their roster in hopes of rediscovering a winning formula.

The team that made it to the NFC Championship Game two years ago is once again in rebuild mode — but with higher stakes. Coach Dan Quinn’s future in Washington may depend on a winning season, and the window to build around quarterback Jayden Daniels while he’s on his rookie contract will soon close.

The Commanders’ revamped roster showed promise early in training camp, especially on defense, where the team made its biggest offseason investments. But a slew of injuries to starters and some key reserves limited their on-field work together and created uncertainty about who will be available when the season opens Sept. 13 in Philadelphia.

That also made the team’s initial 53-man roster, due by 6 p.m. Sunday, vulnerable to significant change before that first game. Washington is seventh in the NFL’s waiver list priority order, which means it’ll have a fairly early crack at claiming, say, an interior offensive lineman (or two) or landing other quality players waived by other teams.

My initial roster projection for Washington is just that — an early iteration but not the final roster for Week 1.

(Note: NFL teams can designate for return up to two players who are placed on injured reserve on roster cutdown day. Those count toward teams’ maximum of eight IR players designated for return, but do not count against the team’s roster cap. They are eligible to return after four games. Anyone else placed on injured reserve before the 6 p.m. deadline on Sunday is done for the season.)

Offense (26)

Quarterback (3): Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Athan Kaliakmanis

Hey, shocker, Daniels is still the starter! In all seriousness, Daniels had an exceptional camp. He’s shown more and more every offseason, but this one was especially notable because of the new scheme and all that he was asked to change or do more of in offensive coordinator David Blough’s system. His transition to playing more under center appeared seamless, and his command of the offense was what you’d expect from a veteran with multiple years in a scheme.

Mariota returned on a one-year deal, ensuring continuity in the quarterback room amid all the other offensive changes.

The notable name here, though, is Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie from Rutgers whose play in the first two preseason games earned him a spot here. Washington kept three quarterbacks on its initial roster the last two seasons, and with Mariota recovering from an MCL sprain, doing so again may be wise. Quinn has said he’s optimistic the veteran will be available for Week 1, but it’s not yet a certainty.

Whether Kaliakmanis sticks at the No. 3 for the season may depend on who comes available after roster cuts.

Running back (3): Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen

Washington released veteran Jerome Ford with an injury settlement and Jeremy McNichols suffered a “pretty good quad injury” in camp, according to Quinn. I didn’t include him on the belief he would clear waivers and be available to re-sign to the practice squad.

Allen had an up-and-down preseason — he had 85 rushing yards and a touchdown against Miami but fumbled on Washington’s opening snap in Baltimore — but his potential and draft status (sixth-round pick) ensure he stays. Undrafted rookie Robert Henry impressed in the opener against Miami, but he may not have shown enough to put Washington at risk of losing him on waivers.

Wide receiver (7): Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey

Receiver was one of Washington’s most questionable positions before training camp, but the arrival of Diggs turned it into one of the most competitive.

McLaurin, Diggs and third-round rookie Williams were locks for the roster, leaving eight wideouts vying for three or four spots. Brown got the nod because of his speed and rapport with Daniels. Burks’ big-play ability won him a spot, and Lane made it because of his punt returns. I admittedly waffled about keeping McCaffrey. He had a very good camp and doubles as the team’s leading kick returner, but I wondered if he showed enough to hold his spot. I kept him because of his draft status (third round in 2024), his consistency compared to others and the value he provides over, say, a fifth linebacker or 10th offensive lineman.

Tight end (4): Chig Okonkwo, John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff

It was always going to be these four. Yankoff had a good camp, showing his pass-catching ability on offense while remaining a special teams staple, and the others were locks before camp opened.

Offensive line (9): LT Brandon Coleman, LG Chris Paul, C Nick Allegretti, RG Sam Cosmi, RT Josh Conerly Jr., OT Andrew Wylie, OL Trent Scott, D.J. Humphries, C Matt Gulbin

*Laremy Tunsil placed on injured reserve with a designation to return

This is the group that figures to change before the opener. It needs to change. Washington cut center Tyler Biadasz in February and didn’t sign another veteran in the offseason, essentially leaving the job to Allegretti, a versatile vet who has played primarily guard. But a calf injury sidelined Allegretti for almost all of camp and his status for the opener is still not clear. Also unclear: His ability as a full-time starter at center.

Julian Good-Jones and Gulbin, a sixth-round rookie, struggled mightily in place of Allegretti, hindering the run game and leaving Daniels exposed for much of the Commanders’ joint practice with the Ravens.

Gulbin stays on the roster largely because the team invested a draft pick in him, but it wasn’t a high enough one to keep him here long-term. Washington should add another center and more help at guard since Coleman shifted back outside to left tackle after Tunsil’s injury.

Tunsil is an obvious candidate for IR with a designation for return on cutdown day. He underwent surgery to repair a torn triceps on Aug. 8, but the team left open the possibility of him returning this season. That injury typically has a 3 to 4-month recovery, depending on the severity and type of repair.

Defense (24)

Defensive line (6): Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle, Charles Omenihu, Shy Tuttle, Byron Cowart

*Johnny Newton is placed on IR with a designation to return.

Newton’s pectoral muscle injury will land him on IR, but, like Tunsil, there’s still a chance he could be available later this season, so designating him for return on cutdown day keeps the door open for Washington.

The Commanders brought back Settle and signed Omenihu to add needed depth at the position. Newton’s injury pushes Tuttle up as the top reserve.

Cowart gets the last spot because of his experience, but like others near the bottom of the depth chart, his spot could change depending on roster needs and who becomes available.

Linebacker (4): Frankie Luvu, Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, Jordan Magee

There are no real surprises here. Kain Medrano and Ale Kaho were possibilities for a fifth linebacker spot, but both seem likely to clear waivers, meaning Washington could sign them back to the practice squad and continue to develop them and have them ready for a few game-day call-ups.

Outside linebacker (4): Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Joshua Josephs, Javontae Jean-Baptiste

*Dorance Armstrong is placed on the reserve/suspended list 

The NFL suspended Armstrong for the season opener for violating the personal conduct policy, which temporarily clears a roster spot. Jean-Baptiste missed much of last season due to a pectoral injury and didn’t show much in the early going of camp. If Washington’s outside linebackers finished camp healthy and available, Jean-Baptiste may have been hard-pressed to get a spot, but Armstrong’s suspension and injuries to Oweh (calf) and Chaisson (knee) — Quinn has not provided a timetable for their return — make it worth keeping him.

Cornerback (5): Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson, Trey Amos, Rasul Douglas, Fabian Moreau

There are a number of outstanding questions about this group, none bigger than the availability of Amos. The 2025 second-round pick was Washington’s most consistent corner last year, but a fractured fibula cut his season short and cost him the entire offseason. He returned two weeks into camp but suffered an ankle sprain in his second practice. It’s unclear if he will be available for Week 1.

Washington added Douglas and Moreau to give the team more veteran experience and depth, and both proved their worth.

Whenever Amos returns, it’ll be interesting to see whether Robertson or Sainristil shifts inside to the slot.

Safety (5): Nick Cross, Jeremy Reaves, Quan Martin, Percy Butler, Tyler Owens

Washington’s most notable roster cut happened Tuesday. Will Harris was the team’s top safety during his limited time last season (he missed eight games because of a fractured fibula), but the addition of Cross in free agency pushed him down the depth chart. Butler and Owens have been staples on special teams and became even more important when special teams ace Nick Bellore retired.

Martin struggled last season, but his two preseason interceptions made the decision to move on from Harris an obvious one.

Special teams (3)

P/H Tress Way, K Drew Stevens, LS Tyler Ott

One of the true competitions going into camp was at kicker, where incumbent Jake Moody faced the undrafted rookie Stevens. The latter won out with his consistency and leg strength. The question is whether he’ll be a long-term solution to Washington’s kicking carousel.

BALTIMORE — Now, the decisions begin.

The Baltimore Ravens wrapped up a dominant preseason with a 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium. In going 3-0 in the preseason, Jesse Minter’s team outscored the opposition 78-13.

Minter kept most of his starters, and even some top backups, on the sideline throughout the preseason, so the team’s performance is a strong endorsement of its depth. That inevitably leads to tough decisions for general manager Eric DeCosta.

The Ravens have to cut their roster down to 53 by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. They then will bring back many of the players they cut to their practice squad if they clear waivers. Practice squads will start forming Monday.

The uncertain health statuses of defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike, inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan and cornerback Bilhal Kone add a layer of difficulty in projecting the 53-man roster, but here’s our attempt to do just that.

Quarterback (2)

In: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

Out: Joe Fagnano, Austin Reed

IR: Skylar Thompson

Toughest call: Waiving Fagnano in hopes he’ll clear and return to the practice squad

It’s been treated like a foregone conclusion throughout the offseason that the Ravens would go with just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. That still could be their direction. The team’s decision-makers have repeatedly shown that they don’t place much value on rostering a third quarterback.

Still, the undrafted rookie out of UConn has forced them to make a difficult call. He’s played with poise and made some impressive throws and decisions. He certainly looks like a developmental quarterback a team would want to keep around. Fagnano played well enough that Baltimore can’t be too comfortable about the prospects of him clearing waivers, either.

Running back (4)

In: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali, Adam Randall

Out: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Jonathan Ward, Dontae McMillan

Toughest call: Keeping four backs rather than a third quarterback

There isn’t much ambiguity in the roster decisions on offense, but this is an area that could go either way. Neither Ali nor Randall has done enough to separate themselves as the clear winner of the No. 3 job, and Ali missed a lot of time with an undisclosed injury this summer.

The No. 3 back is expected to influence special teams far more than the offense, so that could give an edge to Ali, who played 55 percent of the team’s special teams snaps last year. However, the Ravens do not like cutting mid-round rookie draft picks, and Randall, a fifth-rounder, was owner Steve Bisciotti’s handpicked selection. That’s why it’s easy to foresee a scenario where both Ali and Randall make it.

Wide receiver (6)

In: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ja’Kobi Lane, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester

Out: Chris Moore, Xavier Guillory, Dayton Wade, Cornelius Johnson, Octavian Smith Jr., Cortez Braham Jr.

Toughest call: Deciding which two or three receivers to keep on the practice squad

The top five were all but set when training camp began a month ago, and Wester, as the team’s top punt returner, seemed close to a lock as long as he avoided ball-security issues during camp. He’s done that, and he’s shown promise as a wide receiver, too.

None of the other receivers really made much of a roster push, and Guillory, Wade and Smith battled injuries. Moore, given his experience and special teams ability, is probably a guy the Ravens would like to keep on the practice squad.

Tight end (4)

In: Mark Andrews, Durham Smythe, Matt Hibner, Josh Cuevas

Out: Ty Pezza, Lucas Scott (fullback)

Toughest call: Choosing between Hibner and Cuevas for the more prominent role

This is another position that’s been mostly set since before training camp started. The Ravens figure to rely heavily on tight ends in Declan Doyle’s offense and on special teams. With no true fullback being utilized, keeping four tight ends is hardly an imposition to the rest of the roster.

The only real decision will come on whether both Hibner and Cuevas can be active on game day, but the Ravens have time to sort that out.

Offensive line (9)

In: Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson, Vega Ioane, Roger Rosengarten, Jovaughn Gwyn, Ethan Pocic, Carson Vinson, Emery Jones Jr., Andrew Vorhees

Out: Corey Bullock, David Sharpe, Evan Beerntsen, Gerad Lichtenhan, Diego Pounds, Nick Dawkins

IR: Danny Pinter

Toughest call: Deciding who gets the ninth and final spot

The Ravens have gone with 10 offensive linemen before, but there’s not an obvious choice for that spot this year. Bullock missed so much time this summer, and Sharpe just signed about a week ago. Beerntsen, a rookie seventh-rounder, has played sparingly. Lichtenhan wasn’t able to build off a solid preseason opener.

Vorhees, the former starter at left guard, struggled at times, too. But his spot felt relatively secure once he agreed to a contract alteration. It feels like Pinter going down cleared up any ambiguity.

Defensive line (6)

In: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell, Broderick Washington Jr., John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles

Out: C.J. Okoye, Rayshaun Benny, David Olajiga, Dion Wilson Jr., Aaron Graves

Toughest call: Putting Madubuike on the active roster or starting him on injured reserve to give him another month-plus to clear mental and physical hurdles

Minter wasn’t definitive about whether Madubuike, who hasn’t progressed to team drills yet, will be ready for Week 1. The Ravens and Madubuike have been taking it extremely slow in his return from a neck injury. If the Ravens feel he still needs a few more weeks or even if he’ll be in a part-time role early in the season, it sure makes sense to keep an extra defensive lineman. They have also talked about limiting Campbell’s snaps early.

Peebles should have the edge on Okoye and Benny for the last spot, because his interior pass-rush ability adds diversity to the group. However, Peebles playing late in the final preseason game did feel ominous.

Outside linebacker (5)

In: Trey Hendrickson, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Zion Young, Adisa Isaac

Out: Ethan Burke, Kaimon Rucker

Toughest call: Deciding whether to go with Isaac, Burke or Rucker for that fifth spot

The Ravens’ top four are set, and they’d probably be comfortable going into the season with just Hendrickson, Robinson, Green and Young on the 53. Yet, it’s always difficult for them to move on from an early-to-mid-round pick, and Isaac is a 2024 third-rounder who just hasn’t had a chance to develop because of injuries. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Ravens find a way to keep him and buy a little more time.

An undrafted free agent out of Texas, Burke has outplayed Isaac this summer and made a clear case. But he’s probably more likely to clear waivers than Isaac, and Day 2 draft picks get more time than undrafted free agents.

Inside linebacker (4)

In: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jay Higgins IV

Out: Carl Jones Jr. (IR candidate), Dominic DeLuca, Jamon Johnson, Michael Barrett

Toughest call: Determining whether Buchanan is close enough to game action to start him on the 53

Injuries have wreaked havoc on this position group and probably simplified decisions. Carl Jones, for one, was viewed as a strong candidate for the No. 4 inside linebacker/core special-teamer role, but he’s been out since early in camp. Jamon Johnson was a late signing, but a thumb injury took him out of the mix.

Higgins, a second-year undrafted free agent, has had a solid camp and appears to have the inside track for the No. 4 inside linebacker spot. However, DeLuca has opened up some eyes this summer as a rookie free agent and made the most of his preseason starter reps.

Cornerback (6)

In: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Keyon Martin, Chandler Rivers

Out: Bilhal Kone (possible IR), Robert Longerbeam, Marquise Robinson, Amani Oruwariye, Lardarius Webb Jr.

Toughest call: Moving on from both Kone and Longerbeam

This is, by far, the most difficult position to whittle down. Kone and Longerbeam, both 2025 sixth-round picks, have played well enough to secure spots. Marquise Robinson and Oruwariye have been pretty good, too.

Kone’s recent undisclosed injury has complicated matters, because he seemed well on his way to earning his place. The issue is the Ravens simply don’t have enough spots to accommodate all of their deserving corners.

If they keep just four outside linebackers or five interior defensive linemen, that would create room to carry seven corners. Anything beyond seven would be prohibitive to the rest of the roster. The Ravens want to keep as many talented corners as possible, but it’s going to take some roster gymnastics to get it done.

Jettisoning Kone, in particular, would hurt, given the promise he’s shown and how hard he’s worked to return from a significant knee injury. He could be one of the guys the Ravens put on IR with plans for him to return.

Safety (4)

In: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson

Out: K’Von Wallace, Silas Walters

IR: Jahquez Robinson

Toughest call: Deciding whether to keep Wallace or go with just four safeties

Wallace’s status is the only question here. The veteran has had a good camp and played well in the preseason games. For a team that will have three safeties on the field on just about every defensive snap, it certainly would make sense to keep a fifth safety, particularly one with extensive starting experience.

However, as a vested veteran, Wallace doesn’t go through waivers. They could talk him into agreeing to join the practice squad with a promise to elevate him to the game day roster early in the season.

Specialists (3)

In: Tyler Loop (kicker), Ryan Eckley (punter), Nick Moore (long snapper)

Out: Nobody

Toughest call: Sticking with Loop

Despite all the outside angst, the Ravens continue to show faith in their young kicker. They never even brought in another kicker to challenge Loop or the rookie Eckley, so there’s no decision to even ponder for now.

However, it will be interesting to see if they add another kicker to the practice squad and get him ready in case Loop falters. Loop’s status is suddenly the team’s biggest story heading into cutdown day after he missed 2 of 4 attempts in the preseason finale.

Lando Norris says signing a new contract that will keep him at McLaren until at least the end of 2030 was “quite an easy yes for me”.

The world champion, whose new deal was announced on Saturday, said he “didn’t even have a look” at other teams before deciding to commit his future to the team he has been with since his Formula 1 debut in 2019.

“There was some interest from elsewhere,” Norris said in an interview with BBC Sport, “but I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to be with another team. I don’t want to spend time with other people.

“That’s why it really was probably one of the easiest decisions I’ve made since being in Formula 1.”

The Briton had no need to rush his decision to commit to McLaren because his existing contract still had more than a year to run.

But he says the idea “became a topic of conversation over the last four months or so, but very loosely in the background” and he had no hesitation in agreeing.

Norris says his loyalty to McLaren is based on the relationships he has within the team – starting with chief executive officer Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella – and their shared history.

After Norris made his F1 debut in 2019, they spent several years struggling for competitiveness, before their form turned around quickly after Stella was promoted at the end of 2022.

The team won consecutive constructors’ championships in 2024 and 2025 – ending a drought that went back to 1998 – and the drivers’ title for Norris last year.

The 26-year-old said: “The fact I stuck it through with them and then we went on to obviously have success certainly makes me feel like I don’t want to… they didn’t give up on me and I didn’t give up on them.

“That just creates a very strong bond between everyone that works here. I want to believe that bond stays as strong as it is now ’til I do retire in my career at Formula 1.

“I know that’s a long, long way away and I don’t want to think of it. But I believe we’re in the best place we’ve ever been even with a tough start to the season. And I believe that we can fight through anything together for sure.”