The Washington Commanders have had a hectic start to the 2025 campaign. While they were without star quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 3, the Commanders have managed to pick up wins in two of their first three games, and it looks like their magical run to the 2024 NFC Championship Game last year was not a fluke.
However, there is room for improvement in Washington, and the front office is continually looking for ways to improve its roster. On Thursday, that led the Commanders to bring in undrafted Australian punter Oscar Chapman for a tryout, even though the team already has a Pro Bowl-caliber punter, Tress Way, at their disposal.
Commanders Bring in Punter Oscar Chapman for a Tryout
You can never be too thorough in the NFL, and the Commanders are illustrating that by taking a look at another punter, despite having Way at their disposal. A two-time Pro Bowler who also earned a spot on the All-Pro Second Team in 2019, Way has spent his entire 12-year career with Washington, and he remains one of the top players at his position in the league.
If something happens to Way, though, Washington doesn’t have anyone on the depth chart who could come and fill in for him. That led to the team checking out Chapman, a former punter for the Auburn Tigers in college who is looking for his start in the NFL. Chapman didn’t get selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while he spent time with the Minnesota Vikings over the summer, he ended up getting released in August.
Since then, Chapman has been waiting for his next opportunity, and he ended up getting a unique shot to show what he’s capable of for the Commanders. The team brought him in for a tryout on Thursday, and while he isn’t going to steal Way’s job, if Washington needs help at the punter position in the future, he could end up finding his way onto the team.
“Commanders tried out punter Oscar Chapman,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported in a post on X.
Commanders Looking to Earn Second Straight Win in Week 4
GettyWashington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.
Chapman’s tryout is an interesting side note, but the Commanders’ main focus right now is on finding a way to continue their winning ways. While they looked solid against the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, their Week 2 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers showed that they still have a lot of work to do if they intend on making a Super Bowl run this season.
That starts with winning in Week 4, where Washington will face the Atlanta Falcons. Daniels’ injury status is obviously worth keeping tabs on, but even if he doesn’t play, the Commanders should have a shot to pick up a victory in this game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and considering how the Falcons are fresh off a 30-0 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, it’s safe to say they will be just as motivated as the Commanders to win this game.
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