Dan Quinn - Head Coach, commanders Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-16 | Full transcript (primary source).
Dan Quinn, Head Coach of the Commanders, addressed the media on September 16, 2026, during a press conference focused on injury updates and team performance as they prepare for their upcoming game in week two of the NFL season. Quinn emphasized the need for the team to improve and build on their previous game, highlighting the importance of consistency and growth throughout the week.
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Transcript
Quinn: How we're doing everybody All right, when I get Ron told you have some injury updates for you So I'll give you some of those as we start off. So the first one will be Jordan McGee to IR He'll begin his return to play process beginning today Tio will be out there today. So it'd be good to get him back into the mix Frankie and Chig will be out today some uncertainty there for sure as it gets to the weekend I'll definitely have some insights for you by Friday, but they'll be out for today As we head into week two the message I kind of hit with the team is like I want to see us level up There were definitely some things that I liked What I saw from our first game. I liked how hard we played toughness But I also think man, there's a lot we can grow on and that doesn't that doesn't start on Sunday That's today and tomorrow and Friday and as we're going into the week for us to level up so that was the message as we get today, but now we're pumping that division game back to it and Get rolling with you John.
Quinn: Again with Tyler we you always hear like you guys start to make plays and special teams get more chances on defense a lot of times What has maybe held him back from getting some of those opportunities from scrimmage? Yeah, I think like most things just wanting to like find as much consistency as we can We like him down by the line of scrimmage as much as we can John. So he's played some nickel for us He's got range to spy and on the quarterback. So we've done some of those things almost like some specialty roles But the one that he's really carved out for himself is is on team specifically In the cover side kickoff cover on on pun as a gunner So like that's the real specific part with the secondary especially a corner.
Quinn: There was some disappointment the other day that you'd express. How do you handle that? Do you is there are there changes you make are there? What would you do to make sure some of those plays and situations don't arise again? Yeah, for sure and that's what we kind of talked about of leveling up when we asked the team What's the you know thing you want to see specifically different by the time we get to Sunday? And as we get towards the end of the week You want to say like did you do what you said you were gonna do in terms of the changes to go get through that? and so the good news for us the things that we saw there John we definitely feel are correctable and We certainly anticipate seeing that.
Quinn: With Antonio Williams, did he surprise you at all in camp and what did you like about his performance again? I liked I'm more backwards on the question. I liked His feel in the game I thought like he was very level-headed and they keep like You know in a moment where it could be big a big third down catch a touchdown catch And so seeing him just he like very steady in that spot I thought he and Sonny almost demonstrated a similar quality in that way Coming into the camp. I'd saw him having feel to go and then as it gained It got a little stronger a little stronger Steph being here some the other veterans and continue to see him grow. That's what I saw And I think that's what we'll continue to see through the season But he's confident like No one feel how to play so like in a good way not you know in a boastful way or anything But in a very strong way, so I do think the whole group around him from a developmental standpoint makes a big deal like this is an ideal space with Bobby and Andre and you know Steph and Terry and some others to help push along and so I think he's in a good pocket of people and then add his skills on top of that and this work ethic Yeah, I think there's a big development side for him.
Quinn: And then with Mikey I'm a guy who's been a starter for a while you see to make a number of great plays Yes Has his rough game. What how do you sort of balance? You know giving him? like how long does a leash I guess essentially on and How long do you give him to really improve it and show me he can do versus, you know? Yeah, I've got a lot of confidence in Mike. I really do. I love him and I'm certain that He'll be one leveling up, you know on plays that he knows Can be controlled somebody makes you be trying to good play man We tip our hat and say, you know good space to go But that's the spot that we want to see just man stay in Constant things that he can control the call the technique and that and I'm I've got a lot of confidence in him I'm certain that'll get done.
Quinn: With Dallas, particularly Offensively, they got a lot of weapons and last year was not good defensively I just wonder like what's the bigger challenge as you look at them in terms of what you want to try to contain in Corral? Yeah, the we bring all 11 guys back on it, you know team that was you know, hot and you know hit it in good space That was good. Not every year plays out the same, you know How they may play might be different based on you know, the defense that and the people they've added to it but they definitely have the ability to be explosive and So from the defensive standpoint, that's where your eyes go offensively You know for us, you know Christian's excellent coach and part of a very good system And so we don't see it being you know Like the same as anybody, you know like if you had a playbook and I had when we would both call it feel a little different and He'll have his own flavor and stuff on it as it goes, but heading into the division game I think what I do like about that is maybe not as much defensively as people knowing one another into some spots, but The explosive plays that's the thing that that keeps you up at night When you see a team like that that has especially to premiere your receivers outside.
Quinn: I wondered also kind of what Nikki was talking about like just generally how do you weigh? Anybody plays 40 50 plays a game 50 snaps most of the snaps are probably most of the reps probably pretty good, but There may be one or two that are really good and there may be one or two that are awful And I just wonder how you weigh all of that when you look at how did this guy play in this game? Yeah, and it's uh The those positions get you know, you see that corner tackle on the edges You know is like where some of the big plays exist and the same thing happens at other positions But those are the ones that you shine a light on more and I think what we're looking for in those spaces is Not a repeat of an error Staying consistent with the technique and if you're demonstrating those things over and over over time I felt like those would be out, you know of your game And so that's what we're looking for into those spaces to make sure you love the splash plays, but you want to make sure you're consistent and Not being up and down on those staying with the secondary.
Quinn: Sure Is the expectation that Trey would be ready as soon as he's eligible or is it too early to say that? I'd say it's too early to say today Barry That's certainly the goal, you know But I don't know if we're ready to say that just yet As he's going through there on the return to play process once it gets closer and the ramp up hits higher Then there's also some practice time too. And if somebody's had a lot of practice time, I think that window Can happen more quickly, but if you hadn't had a lot of practice time I think you probably need a little bit more but we've not had any discussions about that yet We're excited to get him back. I could tell you that he's in the meeting so it's like you see him and you're like man, I'm ready I'm ready and the same thing like with you know, seeing some of the guys LT and D wise who are around you and You know, there's going to be a time but it's not today.
Quinn: Then another guy to evaluate like how did Brandon Coleman play? Yeah, I thought Especially like you know, like run game pass game all of it to go. He's got really quick feet off the ball berry I thought that's like one of the things that can set him apart and why we like him in the zone game So you can get outside worked on the backside cut off I'd say when you have dropback passes some you win some you lose onto those spots But I want to make sure You know over the course of time kind of like Mike we're talking about like consistently the right thing over and over But I like where he's headed. I like his determination to get there I see his game is going to go like that the more reps the more time of the live exposures It's a big deal for us.
Quinn: Hey coach, how do you combat when you're going up against George Pickens and see lamb When some of the guys in your secondary, whether it be Mikey or me, there's just a clear-size advantage for the Cowboys receivers How do you combat that? Yeah, I think It's the coverage style. What are you playing? How are you playing it when it's just purely isolation and Some of them run different types of routes. So if it was just a deep ball down the field that's one thing to go but Those two have been battling that I would imagine for quite some time and It hasn't necessarily got into that spot, but it's a it's the natural question in that but playing through the hand using your techniques You know with players like these it's you know, hopefully not too many times where hey you are by yourself and everybody knows it And here you go. So that would be you know, certainly one way to help on to that but also, you know playing your technique going through it like You know depending on where the throws are high crossing, you know all those factor in as well.
Quinn: And how much does a Dorrance Armstrong returning help this defense? It definitely helps He's got really good rush skills He's very complimentary in that that he can work outside inside. So having him get the practice reps, you know Since I guess probably with maybe the middle of camp That was a big deal, you know, we're coming off an injury. You need the reps You need the timing so to see his speed back his explosion back. That's a big deal He's got we're talking about Antonio having feel Dorrance is a player that has feel he knows when this happens He knows what to react to and so having more players like that who have that type of versatility That adds a lot of value. So we're excited to get Away in KC and him all back in the rotation together. We were you know ready to see that and It'd be nice to put it into action.
Quinn: Dan it seemed like and Sonia Williams to really start to come alive in that fourth quarter against the Eagles What do you think started to click for him down the strips? I thought a lot of things clicked honestly And I thought as we were going into the game We were getting I felt a little stronger even as the game was going on I think overall the groups in good shape they're into that space to go like most things I think there's a Okay, I know what works where do you go like the longer you're in a fight this happens? This is where I can go. So he is somebody that has good feel and good sense Sometimes even being in receiver the locations. What are you doing? What route are you on? Where are you featured? If they're going specifically, you know to one player like you may get more matchup so I think Antonio has the awareness of that and It was good to see him like really be comfortable in a big moment with that receiver room.
Quinn: It's a deep room and there's you know, a lot of rotation there snaps being spread around it's our first time kind of asking about it, but what went into you know, Luke McCaffrey and Traleon Burke's being inactive in the game. And then how could they fit in moving forward? Sure, depending on a different match. Yeah, it's um It's a problem as a coach you you love it's hard as the competitors In this game We had you know five receivers and four tight ends and other games that may switch around to go both of them Provide a lot of value in different ways both have high special teams, you know ceilings for us Luke on the return side tray and a couple of number of other ways, so This was how we played it for week one and week two three four I think you know, depending on the opponent there could be some changes as that goes but in this instance This is a position that we're very deep in and it was just by the game plan.
Quinn: All right, Dan back to Antonio again He mentioned confidence a lot after the game. You kind of mentioned it earlier as well What progression have you seen in that confidence from when you first got here in April to now? What have you seen? Yeah, I think Number one like most of the guys from the rookie class to go like how hard you have to run to be in NFL Receiver shape like and so I think seeing that and seeing the other guys do that when he came back to camp He was ready to be into that space when you're first coming out of the college and going through all the preparatory stuff for Combines and draft prep and that you know, you're not into that, you know same space So I think that was good and that's not that different for him or any of his other rookie teammates But to see that get elevated and then the skills kind of continue to work through the camp I think that was as big a factor as any.
Quinn: And then what did you think of his ability to make Such a low catch falling backwards in that situation where it's third down. You all need to score He's a rookie. What do you think of his ability to kind of keep his composure? Yeah thought a couple things one good on he and Jaden knowing like I'm that specific one it was You know design for man-to-man and so sometimes the catches that are below your knees can be the most difficult when you're moving Not if I was just stationary you can go but on those ones to go But I thought even for me rewatching it on the replay like the grip, you know, it does touch the ground the ball didn't move I thought he had a really clear understanding of what it takes in that space and I think that goes a lot to his preparation to the quarterback the receivers like, you know to the whole group and I think he's really, you know ready for the challenges.
Quinn: Hey, Dan over the offseason offensive coordinator David Blau said he wanted to get Terry McCluren around ten targets a game He had four targets on Sunday against the Eagles So as you kind of digest and process what transpired on the film, is there conversations between you David Terry? Like how does that process work where maybe you try to get more toward that ten target goal that he mentioned? Yeah, I think on all systems even that that makes sense, you know, but that won't be The case if it's not available in that spot one of the things that we all appreciate also with Jaden is like man, he's gonna make really good decisions and I think Terry's like the ultimate pro and knows it like it may not come to him, you know on every one But he knows when his time's there. He's gonna go make it We certainly want he and like all the other guys that can make the explosive plays their chances to go get it but sometimes the game has to dictate that too and so As we move in I think there'll be games that he has more than that amount and there'll be some that I have less so As we go through it We'll kind of see how the those games play out But I think there are a lot of factors that go into that as opposed to just every game, you know This many targets as many shots.
Quinn: With with Jaden what didn't you see on Sunday against the Eagles from Jaden that maybe you want to see against the Cowboys? I Honestly, I saw a lot from what I've seen in the camp part of things. I saw like a very good decision-making process Remaining a passer and the scrambles, you know deciding when some throwaways were the appropriate time I'm very much. I wouldn't say this. I didn't see this I'm very much looking forward to seeing him in a lot of clutch moments ahead He has such confidence in that space with the system with the guys and so I'm very much looking forward to seeing that.
Quinn: It in a little bit more of a tenant general question not necessarily specific to Tyler Owens But okay when you see a guy on special teams kind of continue to make plays and show out when they're given their Opportunities there. Yep Does that help them earn time on their side of the ball or do you look at more as hey that guy's in specials? It can it can and on this instance with Tyler Fortunately for us like for you know a couple years now He's been making these types of plays where he's got great speed to offer The covering is what like sets him apart. He's got speed and length. So That's the role that he's best at today. And that doesn't mean you don't give him more chances or more ops, but What I do love about him like he's nailing the role that's given to him and there's no denying that it does happen some But like most things I don't want to force anything, you know Like it's earned on special teams. Keep picking ass doing that if it's earned on offense or defense you keep rolling with that but We'll make it specific to the job first and but we're really pleased with the the role where he's at.
Quinn: Dan your thoughts on the run game bill in particular obviously Some good yards. He also had the fumble to thoughts on that. Yeah I think the ball security that's definitely the premium for us. You've heard me talk about it a lot Ben I love like kind of the twitch that you see with bill You know, we can get him on to the second and the third level like that presents a real problem from a tackling standpoint I think we saw that almost on the opening play Where there's a chance to go onto a big one. He's decisive in his cuts I think that's been a stronger part of his game Ben as it's going He's a stronger person right now like just from the offseason and development. So you're seeing those things. I Think the zone game suits him because he's got the cutback ability So I think just the more reps he gets in at the more got time You know, he's seeing the blocks you'll I know where he is Those are things that just we need time on task, but I'm pleased with what we've seen so far The fumble was out of consciousness. You wanted k-turn in there. Was that a Response to the fumble it was both.
Quinn: Thank you guys.
