The Washington Commanders begin training camp next week. The rookies report to Ashburn next Thursday, and the veterans arrive five days later.
There is a lot of anticipation surrounding the Commanders in 2024. It’s not the type of anticipation that people believe Washington will contend, but that this is an entirely new era, with a new owner, new GM, new coaching staff, and new quarterback.
Speaking of the quarterback, will rookie Jayden Daniels start in Week 1? All signs point to Daniels starting Week 1. However, the team hasn’t made any official announcements, and there’s no reason to do so at the moment.
While all eyes will be on Daniels, what other offensive players should fans keep an eye on this summer? Yesterday, we looked at five defensive players to watch in training camp. Today, we look at five offensive players to watch.
Jun 5, 2024; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes a ball during an OTA workout at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Of course, the answer here is Daniels. Everyone will be watching Daniels, from the coaches and his teammates to the fans and media. Daniels has shown that he doesn’t pay too much attention to the outside noise, but how will he respond if he struggles in one of Washington’s joint practices? The joint practices are often the best work teams get during training camp. The Commanders will have joint practices against their preseason opponents this summer. That will be a good test for Daniels and show his readiness for Week 1. Another area to observe with Daniels is how familiar he is with Kliff Kingsbury’s playbook.
Jun 5, 2024; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) stands on the field during OTA workouts at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
So much of the talk this offseason has centered around Austin Ekeler. Ekeler will be a central figure in Washington’s offense, but Brian Robinson Jr. should remain Washington’s starter. Ekeler will handle passing downs, an area where Robinson showed tremendous potential last season. How will Robinson look in his third offense in three seasons? Robinson could quietly be Washington’s breakout contender in 2024.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson (1) makes a video while leaving the field after the Commanders’ game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dotson was everyone’s pick as Washington’s breakout player last season. He responded with 49 receptions for 518 yards in 17 games. These numbers are for an offense that led the NFL in passing attempts. It’s important to note that while the Commanders led the NFL in pass attempts, it wasn’t an efficient passing offense. There aren’t any reasons to be concerned about Dotson for now. He has acknowledged he didn’t play well last season. Almost everyone gets a pass because the entire team took steps backward last season. The Commanders would love to see Dotson have an active camp and get back on track after he had a promising rookie season in 2022.
Jun 5, 2024; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders tight end Armani Rogers (88) catches the ball during OTA workouts at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
There are multiple intriguing players here. Zach Ertz is the veteran starter, Ben Sinnott is the highly regarded rookie and John Bates is the blocker. Don’t forget about Armani Rogers. An undrafted free agent in 2022, Rogers was terrific that offseason and forced his way onto the roster. The former college quarterback tore his Achilles during OTAs last summer and missed the entire season. Washington was disappointed as Rogers was slated for a big role in the offense. Rogers is back healthy now, and he needs a strong camp to convince the Commanders he belongs. Remember, this is a new regime. The preseason games will be important for Rogers. Washington would love to see Sinnott and Rogers become a reliable tight end duo for years to come.
Nov 2, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Christian Horned Frogs offensive tackle Brandon Coleman (77) blocks Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive tackle Tony Bradford Jr. (97) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
For as many eyes that will be on Daniels, rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman will also see plenty of attention. The Commanders badly need a left tackle. Can Coleman be that guy? Can he be that guy as a rookie? General manager Adam Peters believes so. Coleman needs to get off to a fast start in his competition with Cornelius Lucas. Lucas can hold down the position for four or five games, but when he plays longer than that, the issues pop up. In a perfect world, Coleman wins the job outright. If not, the best-case scenario is Lucas starts for a few weeks before Coleman moves into the lineup.
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Publish date : 2024-07-12 05:00:00
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