As the Commanders' training camp unfolds, the intensity ramps up, and players are honing their skills, focusing on critical areas like red-zone scenarios.
Progress and Highlights
Tuesday's practice featured the sixth session of the camp, marking the third day with fans present and the second in full pads. This progression has allowed both veterans and newcomers to showcase their abilities and vie for starting positions.
One of the central narratives has been the performance of Jayden Daniels, who is currently splitting first-team reps with Marcus Mariota. Daniels left a strong impression with several notable plays. During the 11-on-11 sessions, he delivered a deep ball up the right sideline to Olamide Zaccheaus, connected crisply with Jahan Dotson along the sideline, and executed a solid throw to Terry McLaurin up the opposite sideline. In the final team session, Daniels found Dotson again and capped it with a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz. However, Daniels also experienced some challenges, including a bungled handoff with Jeremy McNichols and a series of missed throws in a row.
Key Performances and Observations
Brandon Coleman has emerged as a versatile asset, playing with both the first and second teams at left and right tackle. His matchups against seasoned veterans Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell have been crucial in his development. Reflecting on his performance, Coleman remarked, "There's always like three points in my brain that I'm telling myself in the next period if I didn't do it well. Like today, it was my hands were pretty bad in the first period. I was like, 'Work on my hands, work on my balance, keep my chest up.'"
The young offensive lineman also highlighted the learning curve, saying, "D-linemen in the league have a bunch of secondary and third moves. Their knowledge of what o-linemen do is so vast compared to college... That's stuff that I just have to engrain in my brain, like shit’s not over until the whistle blows."
Mariota, the other key figure in the quarterback competition, demonstrated his capabilities by connecting with Tremayne for two downfield catches, compensating for an earlier drop.
On the defensive side, Mike Sainristil has been a stalwart presence, contributing consistently in multiple facets, including special teams. His approach to the game is one marked by relentless effort, describing it as, "I'm a guy that's gonna go hard until the whistle's blown. And then the second part of it is just getting myself to make that second nature for me, so that when it comes game time, I don’t even have to think about stuff like that."
Jer'Zhan Newton also earned his first-team reps, making an immediate impact by compelling McNichols to cut back during a play. Meanwhile, K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste made their presence felt in various drills and scrimmages.
Special Teams and Consistency
Kicker Ramiz Ahmed had a particularly strong showing on Tuesday, not missing any field goals during the team portion of practice. Ahmed's range was on full display, nailing kicks from as far as 51 yards with ample distance. This consistency is crucial as the team builds toward the season.
Among the various standouts of the camp, Jahan Dotson has been one of the most dependable and dynamic performers. Reflecting on his progress, Dotson noted, "I feel like I'm just getting more comfortable, and that's enabling me to play faster and faster. That's been a big emphasis for me."
As the camp progresses, the stakes only get higher, and the performances of players like Daniels, Coleman, Sainristil, and Dotson will be critical in shaping the Commanders' roster for the upcoming season.