The Daily Slop – 31 August 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!
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Commanders links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
NFC East odds, projections: Why Eagles, Cowboys are well ahead of Commanders
Perhaps the most concerning factor is Washington’s schedule. The Commanders play the third-toughest schedule, according to my model, while the Cowboys face the eighth and Eagles face the 20th. And it gets tough right off the bat with trips to Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco while hosting the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts, Giants, Eagles and Los Angeles Rams through the first eight games.
I’m not sure the Commanders are even in the playoff race by Week 10.
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A struggling offensive line with an average (at best) defense facing one of the league’s toughest schedules is a recipe for a 7-8 win season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have an elite offense and the Eagles should have an elite defense. Those units alone should carry those teams to 9-10 wins — or more.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Key takeaways from Washington’s roster cuts
Most of the questions surrounding the offensive line are focused on center. Nick Allegretti, who dealt with a calf injury that forced him to miss almost all of camp, did not get placed on any injured list, hinting that the Commanders are confident he will be ready for Week 1. Behind him, the Commanders chose to go with rookie Matt Gulbin, who showed good play strength during run blocks.
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Gulbin is currently one of four players the Commanders have for offensive line depth. Andrew Wylie was predictably slated as the backup right tackle with the ability to move over to guard if necessary. DJ Humphries was a late addition, but the Commanders like his experience and believe he can be a good backup option at left tackle. Utah undrafted free agent Tanoa Togiai was the biggest surprise of the initial cuts, as he ended up on the active roster after putting together some quality snaps in the preseason.
Much of the Commanders’ success up front hinges on their belief in Allegretti, but assuming he can stay healthy, they feel confident in their offensive line.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
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NFL Power Rankings plus one milestone for every team
20. Washington Commanders
Postdraft ranking: 19
Milestone to watch: Quarterback Jayden Daniels setting a franchise record for single-season TD passes.
The only time a Washington quarterback threw for more than 30 touchdowns was Sonny Jurgensen in 1969 (31). Daniels threw for 25 in his rookie season, and the Commanders have a stronger receiving corps than last season with Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs and promising rookie Antonio Williams. Daniels also has looked ultra-sharp in David Blough’s new offense in practices. If Daniels stays healthy — and the offensive line without Laremy Tunsil can protect him — he can top Jurgensen. — John Keim
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Podcasts & videos
Commanders SIGNING 3 PLAYERS TODAY!? Trey Amos FALLOUT, Center DILEMMA
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Zach Ertz could return to the Eagles
EJ Smith from PHLY Eagles recently reported that a return for the tight end isn’t out of the question.
“Zach Ertz has a chance to fill the Eagles’ void at tight end with a potential return on the table, according to league sources. Nothing is imminent as the 35-year-old is nearing the nine-month mark of recovery from a scary knee injury suffered on Dec. 7, but Ertz would welcome a return to the Eagles for his 14th season.”
At the roster cut deadline, Philadelphia kept four tight ends — Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, and E.J. Jenkins. Grant Calcaterra was placed on IR and he will miss at least the first four games of the season, but was one of the team’s two players designated to return.
But that position room doesn’t feel complete. Rookie Eli Stowers struggled on the field during training camp and is now dealing with a hamstring injury, and E.J. Jenkins had a good summer but was still considered a bubble player. Calcaterra has been dealing with injuries, and even though he’s had some big moments, he’s not a better option than Zach Ertz.
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NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
Runners-Up Offered Seahawks Stake After Losing Out on Team
Vinod Khosla’s family beat out a group led by Wyc Grousbeck and Aditya Mittal for the Seahawks. Now, members of that consortium have been invited to join the new ownership group.
The Khosla-led ownership group could add investors from the runner-up bidding group that it beat out to purchase the team, a source told FOS. The other finalist in the bidding, FOS previously reported, was a group headed by Aditya Mittal and Wyc Grousbeck. Mittal is the CEO of steel and mining company ArcelorMittal and son of the company’s executive chairman, Lakshmi Mittal, whose family was recently part of a group that paid billions of dollars for a minority stake in Liverpool. Grousbeck was previously the governor of the Celtics and remains a minority owner after his family sold the team to a group led by Bill Chisholm in a $6 billion deal.
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Members of the Mittal-Grousbeck bidding group have been invited to join the Khosla ownership group, the source said. But it’s not clear which investors, if any, have agreed to join.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
Aaron Donald, an unrelenting force, makes the superteam Rams feel inevitable
It’s so difficult to win a Super Bowl, even as the favorite. Even before Donald’s reinstatement, the Rams had the best odds to do so. Their chances are still just 15.5 percent, according to Austin Mock’s NFL Projection Model; the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens are the next-closest at 7.8 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.
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All of this to say, the margins for success are slim, and it’s far more likely that things go wrong than right. Careful planning as the Rams have done — turning the sprint-rebuild of 2023 again into a multi-year contender, preserving Stafford’s health and contract, drafting and developing a stellar new core before acquiring resources they ultimately turned into premier players at premium positions (just like in 2021) — only goes so far.
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aBit o’Twitter
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