The wait is over. Washington Commanders training camp opened Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the BigBear.ai Performance Center in Ashburn, Virginia — and after a long offseason of OTAs, minicamp, and roster moves, real football finally starts to pick up a little.
Sunny Skies for Day 1
Camp opened under clear skies and summer heat, with temperatures climbing into the upper 80s — classic late-July Virginia weather. The sun was out for the full 90-minute session, and so was the energy, as players hit the field for the first padded work of the season.
Competitive From the Jump
Quinn promised a spirited, competitive camp — and Day 1 delivered. Neither offense nor defense had a clear edge by the end of practice, with one of the sharpest moments coming late, as receiver Jaden Bradley and cornerback Darius Rush battled for a contested ball downfield.
Jayden Daniels opened his third training camp in Washington, joined by McLaurin, Daron Payne, and the rest of a roster now fully installed in David Blough’s and Daronte Jones’ new systems.
Full 2026 Training Camp Calendar
Here’s every key date to keep on your radar this summer:
- Rookies report: July 24
- Veterans report: July 28
- Camp opens (Practice #1): July 29
- Open to the public: Aug. 1, 7, 8, 18, 19
- Season Ticket Member practices: Aug. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12
- Joint practice vs. Miami: Aug. 12 (Ashburn)
- Joint practice at Baltimore: Aug. 26
All public sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are free but limited — worth grabbing early at Commanders.com/TrainingCamp.
A Little Day 1 Drama
Before a single snap was taken, GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn had housekeeping to cover. Tight ends coach Ben Steele was dismissed from the team after a June DUI arrest violated team policy, with Wes Welker stepping in to coach the position instead.
Punter Tress Way opened camp on the Active/Non-Football Injury list with minor issues, while Trey Amos and Dorance Armstrong started camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Camp Matters
Training camp is where the offseason talk finally turns into football. With new coordinators, a retooled receiver room, and real position battles across the roster, this camp carries more intrigue than most.
The Commanders now have just over six weeks to get it all figured out before the regular season kicks off.