ASHBURN — It’s not the “culture.” It’s not the quarterback’s size. It’s not the intrigue of a young running back or the uncertainty over a star receiver’s future.None of the narratives from past organized team activities fit the Washington Commanders this year, and for good reason. In a year when most might expect an organization to finally find a foothold with its third-year head coach and system, the Commanders are starting anew — new schemes, new coordinators and a seemingly new approach.And after Wednesday’s first OTA workout, Washington seems to exude a different confidence, too.“Yeah, we got some motherf—–s now,” defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw said. “Excuse my language.”Added fellow lineman Charles Omenihu: “You look all across the board, you got talent top to bottom, man.”While it’s far too early to make any proclamation about the Commanders’ season and where it may lead, their first bit of on-field work showed a team resolved to not repeat its play from 2025.It starts, of course, with Jayden Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, whose second NFL season was limited to seven starts because of injuries. The disappointment of last year “left a bitter taste,” he said, prompting him to use the offseason to “figure out ways to mentally get better, physically and emotionally and everything.”The breadth of his offseason work was on display Wednesday, as he adapted to the new offense coordinated by David Blough. Forget shotgun; Daniels, as expected, worked primarily under center. The run game was emphasized heavily throughout the non-padded workout and the pass game was varied, with a mix of deep shots and intermediate throws.Daniels, throughout it all, appeared fully in control, and he adapted to the change in footwork and concepts with seemingly little or no apprehension.“His mental quickness is always something that just jumps out to me of, like, learning a system so quickly and fast,” coach Dan Quinn said ahead of the workout. “I saw that a few years ago and I’m feeling those same instincts now. As you guys will see at practice, more huddle and it’ll look differently. You’ll see him under center more, but you see the same intent, you see the same communication, and I think it’s the mental quickness that just makes things that are difficult look easy.”In 2024, Washington’s first season with Quinn, Daniels and general manager Adam Peters, the Commanders were a mystery team — a franchise climbing out of a decades-long abyss under former owner Daniel Snyder, with plenty of hope but even more uncertainty.Last season, there was a palpable void early in OTAs. Star receiver Terry McLaurin opted to skip the voluntary workouts (and, later, the non-voluntary ones) because of a contract dispute. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil maintained his usual regimen of working on his own ahead of mandatory minicamp, and the structure and tempo of the early workouts seemed a little more laidback.Wednesday’s workout was the opposite, appearing more like a training camp practice than an early ease-everyone-in session.“There’s a little bit more fire under our ass when it comes to being out there,” right guard Sam Cosmi said.Here are some other takeaways from Wednesday’s workout:• Having McLaurin back changes everything — the play of the offense, the versatility of the approach and the energy of the team as a whole. Maybe his presence stands out more this offseason because of his absence for most of last offseason, but McLaurin’s leadership was especially noticeable. It’s been noticeable for a while, thanks to social media clips of his workouts with fellow receiver Dyami Brown, a player McLaurin really started to take under his wing in 2024 before Brown departed for Jacksonville for a season.McLaurin’s attention to detail has always been a separating point for him, even down to his pre-practice and post-practice reps on the Jugs machine. Just as he did before every workout last season, McLaurin spent time on the sideline before Wednesday’s session catching balls from receivers coach Bobby Ingram. Some high, some intentionally low — all with the intent to train his eyes. He does the same thing after practice but on the Jugs machine, catching balls over trash cans, on one knee and over his shoulder.Surrounding him after the workout were Washington’s other young receivers — Brown, rookie Antonio Williams, Jaylin Lane, Nick Nash and others.• That Tunsil attended the practice feels noticeable. Throughout his career, Tunsil has typically preferred to maintain his workout regimen with his longtime trainer in Auburn, Ala. during the voluntary phase of the offseason. So to see him at practice — not participating, but observing and talking to the younger linemen — was surprising. Pleasantly so. Perhaps it’s a sign of the team’s eagerness to rid the taste of 2025. If anything, it’s another example of Washington’s added emphasis on collaboration and communication in all facets.• New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones preached versatility in his introductory news conference in February, and yet he still undersold the emphasis this year. Having players who can move around is a priority for the Commanders’ defense, and it could be the reason certain players are retained over others when the initial roster is formed.“Yeah, that’s a big thing,” Omenihu said. “Versatility is really, really important. They like that here. They like the guys that can play multiple positions. I’ve been playing up and down the line. Sooner or later, y’all gonna see me standing up at outside linebacker.”That extends to the secondary, where it’s still unclear how Jones plans to use Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson, two cornerbacks with the ability to play inside and outside.“He tells everybody in the room, whether you’re a lineman, a linebacker, a DB, just learn the defense as a whole,” Sainristil said of Jones. “Don’t learn it from a specific position, because sometimes you’re going to be asked to do multiple things. It doesn’t matter who you are. I think everyone’s been doing that exact thing and just picking up the defense conceptually.”• Multiple players who suffered significant injuries last season are still working their way back and did not participate Wednesday. Among them: defensive ends Dorance Armstrong (ACL) and Deatrich Wise Jr. (torn quadriceps) and cornerback Trey Amos (fractured fibula).“There’s guys in different spots (of their recovery), and I think all of it’s kind of geared toward camp to see what that would look like,” Quinn said. “I think that’ll be fluid here through the OTAs. But the number one thing is that they’re on the way back and making good strides in that way.”Another nonparticipant was second-year running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt. It’s unclear the reason, but he observed practice from the sideline.