The Washington Commanders return to the field for practice on Tuesday after taking Monday off for rest. On Saturday, the Commanders hosted the Miami Dolphins in their first preseason game of 2026, and while we didn’t see Jayden Daniels or most of their other starters, we did get a glimpse of what this team will look like after all the offseason changes.
Unfortunately, some players also did not play due to injury. Second-year cornerback Trey Amos was one player that many hoped to see return to the field after breaking his fibula against the Detroit Lions on November 9. Amos played in 10 games before suffering that injury. While he returned to practice briefly this month, he was almost immediately sidelined with ankle soreness and will not play in the second preseason game either.
Advertisement
Even so, the Commanders anticipate that he will be ready for the start of the season, and Pro Football Focus has named Amos as the Commanders’ 2026 breakout candidate.
A broken leg cut Trey Amos’ rookie season short in Week 10, but there were encouraging signs before the injury. Although he finished with a 58.8 PFF coverage grade, he earned a grade above 70.0 in four of his 10 starts. Amos also entered the NFL off an outstanding final season at Ole Miss, allowing just 280 receiving yards on 515 coverage snaps in 2024.
Through his 10 games in 2025, Amos recorded 32 tackles (19 solo), one stuff, and six passes defensed. Given the depth of the Commanders’ cornerback room this season, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones desperately needs Amos back on the field and performing at a high level. If Amos can get back on the field sooner rather than later, he is absolutely poised for a breakout season in 2026.
Currently, Amos is the projected left cornerback starter with Mike Sainristil on the opposite side. Amik Robertson is the nickelback, with Jeremy Reaves and Nick Cross as the starting safeties. Obviously, this could change. The problem is that behind Amos and Sainristil, the quality of backup corners is suspect.
If Amos can’t go come Week 1, the Commanders will have to decide if he should start the season on injured reserve. They would much rather have him on the field than not, but they also don’t want to risk his health. If they put him on IR, then they’ll have to decide who takes his place until he returns.
Advertisement
It’s not a great situation for the Commanders’ secondary.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders cornerback named 2026 breakout candidate
