Wes Welker to coach tight ends for the Commanders after Steele’s exit just before the start of camp

FILE - Miami Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker walks onto the field before the start of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Dec. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, file)(AP/Doug Murray) FILE - Miami Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker walks onto the field before the start of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Dec. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, file)(AP/Doug Murray) ASHBURN, Va.

(AP) — Wes Welker will coach tight ends for the Washington Commanders after the team moved on from position coach Ben Steele this week. General manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn held their pre-training camp news conference Tuesday and addressed the move. A day earlier, the Commanders said they were parting ways with Steele, who was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated last month.

“Really wish the best for Ben and his family,” Peters said. “A lot of thought was put in that decision, and it was unfortunate.” Welker, a standout receiver for the New England Patriots in his playing days, spent 2025 as a personnel analyst for Washington. He’s been a wide receivers coach for Miami and San Francisco.

The Commanders open practice Wednesday. Peters said punter Tress Way (pectoral) and linebacker Kain Medrano (hamstring) are dealing with injuries but shouldn’t be out too long. Washington went to the NFC title game two seasons ago when quarterback Jayden Daniels was a star rookie.

Then the Commanders went 5-12 in 2025 when he was limited to seven games by injuries. “You felt his hunger from the beginning of the offseason, the way he went after it,” Quinn said. “Just his ability to understand this scheme that quickly.

It’s not easy for anybody to do, and he often makes the difficult things look easy.” Washington brought in David Blough to replace Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, and Daniels’ health and performance will presumably determine a lot about how this team fares. The receivers are a bit of a question mark beyond Terry McLaurin, but Peters was upbeat about that position. “Really happy with who’s in that room.