As the Commanders' training camp continues to ramp up, the team is diligently focusing on honing their skills, with a keen emphasis on red-zone work. The sixth practice of the camp, held on Tuesday, saw players dedicating themselves to perfecting their game strategies, with an audience of enthusiastic fans witnessing the action for the third time this camp.
Jayden Daniels has been drawing considerable attention, sharing first-team reps with Marcus Mariota. During the 11-on-11 sessions, Daniels showcased his ability to connect with his receivers, including a deep ball to Olamide Zaccheaus up the right sideline and a solid throw to Terry McLaurin on the opposite side. His connection with Jahan Dotson has been particularly noteworthy, culminating in a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz during the final team session, after finding Dotson along the sideline earlier.
However, Daniels' performance hasn’t been flawless. He experienced a bungled handoff with Jeremy McNichols and a string of missed throws, underscoring the pressure of competing at such a high level. Nonetheless, growth often comes from such challenges, and Daniels remains a key figure to watch as the camp progresses.
Strength in the Trenches
Brandon Coleman has been a key contributor on the offensive line, playing both left and right tackle with the first and second teams. His matchups against seasoned veterans like Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell have provided him with invaluable experience. Reflecting on his progress, 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.'
He continued, "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 it’s not over until the whistle blows."
Defensive Standouts
On the defensive side, Mike Sainristil has been a constant presence, contributing significantly to both the starting defense and the return game. Sainristil’s commitment to playing until the very last whistle is apparent. "Part of it is just my play style. I'm a guy that's gonna go hard until the whistle's blown," he shared. "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 made strides during Tuesday’s practice, seizing his first opportunity to take first-team reps. Newton's influence was visible when he forced McNichols to cut back during a play, displaying his adaptability and skill in reading the offense. Additionally, K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste made their impacts felt, consistently disrupting plays and asserting their presence on the field.
Special Teams & Consistency
Special teams play can often be overlooked, but kicker Ramiz Ahmed ensured it remained a topic of discussion on Tuesday by delivering a flawless performance. Ahmed did not miss a single field goal during the team portion of practice, calmly drilling kicks from as far as 51 yards with room to spare.
Jahan Dotson has emerged as one of the most consistent performers at camp, demonstrating his growth and reliability as a receiver. "I feel like I'm just getting more comfortable, and that's enabling me to play faster and faster," Dotson explained, highlighting the emphasis he places on improving his game speed.
Tremayne, another name to note, overcame an early drop to make two impressive downfield catches from Mariota, showcasing his resilience and ability to rebound from setbacks.
As the Commanders’ training camp continues to foster competition and development, the squad’s collective and individual efforts provide a promising glimpse into the season ahead. The mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans creates a dynamic environment, setting the stage for what fans hope will be an impactful season.