A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general
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Jayden Daniels is up and down on Day 3
The rookie quarterback threw his first interception of training camp in the first team period when cornerback Michael Davis jumped an in-breaking route over the middle. Daniels nearly threw a second when a pair of defenders converged and one swatted away his pass.
Daniels wasn’t nearly as consistent as he was in the spring and in the first two days of camp, but the offense didn’t help its quarterbacks either. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson and running back Brian Robinson Jr. each dropped a pass during team drills.
Daniels seemed unfazed by the miscues, though. He remained poised behind the line, and after leading the offense to the 2-yard line with a quick slant to wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Daniels subsequently ran it in for the touchdown.
Dan Quinn’s camp schedule differs significantly from recent years in Washington, especially last season. Practices are more up-tempo, but there are also more rest days and rest periods because players “have to recover not just physically, but mentally as well,” he said. Saturday will be the first rest day after three consecutive days of practice.
The change is welcome for players. Last year’s camp was grueling, to the point players expressed concern about increasing the risk of injury and leaving them exhausted for the start of the season.
“There’s a specific time period of the day cut out for us to get some recovery, and that goes a long way,” Wylie said. “… This is my eighth training camp. This is the first time that a recovery period has been on the schedule. It goes a long way, especially with lot of the veteran guys.”
Kicker update – sort of. The Commanders signed Ramiz Ahmed in early June, shortly after they released veteran Brandon McManus. Ahmed remains the only kicker on the roster, and early in camp he has been solid — when kicking within 50 yards. The team closed out practice by testing Ahmed’s limits; he booted five field goals while surrounded by all of his teammates. Ahmed went 3 for 5, hitting the crossbar on one from 50 or so yards and falling short (and wide right) on another from 50-plus. He also missed one from 50-plus during team drills — his first miss of camp.
The Athletic (paywall)
Jayden Daniels’ chill demeanor hides competitor within: ‘You can’t be content with your job’
Friday marked the first time reporters could check in with Daniels during camp. He wore a black tank top and sat in a burgundy folding chair in the open-air media tent. Combined with a chill yet quiet and confident demeanor, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner could be mistaken for a beach dweller taking a break from the sunshine. Nothing behind a steady, wry smile offered signs of stress despite wrapping up practices minutes before and the starter question lingering.
That’s not because he assumes Quinn will declare him Washington’s QB1. The challenge of rising above the fray is where the 23-year-old finds joy.
“I like competing. Regardless of whether I was announced as the starter or not, you still have to compete,” Daniels said earnestly. “You can’t be content with your job or comfortable and think this is your job. You have to go out there and compete. It’s not a problem at all.”
Daniels finds time to continue working with the virtual reality program that helped his game rise at LSU. Next month, joint practices with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins will offer a new challenge. It’s the same with three preseason games where he’ll face opposing NFL defenders for the first time. Practicing game scenarios now, including finding the hot route on plays with an empty backfield, becomes pertinent since the quarterback will eventually get hit.
“You don’t want to look one way and get earholed and blindsided by a free runner. That’s no fun. So (the coaches) do a great job of putting us in a position to go out there and succeed, giving the answers to the test,” Daniels said. “We just got to go out there and do it.”
WJLA
Rookie Mike Sainristil has maturity and quickness to make a difference for the Commanders
Washington fans have reasons to be excited about what Sainristil can provide to the Commanders secondary. Head Coach Dan Quinn touted his speed and believes he has the maturity of a veteran paired with the humility of a younger player. Sainristil said he has completely bought into the Washington franchise.
“A full-team guy, someone who cares about football, who loves football, who’s passionate about football, will do anything to see the team win” Sainristil said. “I’ll be fully engaged with the fans, they’re the ones that support us every single day, so the same love that they give to us, I’m going to give it right back to them.”
Sainristil credits his experience in Ann Arbor to providing him with the tools necessary to live out his childhood dream of playing in the NFL.
“The way Coach Harbaugh ran the program sets you up for this stage,” Sainristil said. “I feel like everything about Michigan definitely helps prepare you for this level. From practice to the standard that’s set there.”
Commanders.com
Three standouts from Week 1 of Commanders training camp
Jordan Magee
It can be difficult for Day 3 draft picks to make the roster, let alone carve out a role in their first season. It looks like Magee is on his way to accomplishing both, and it’s catching his teammates’ attention.
“He’s picking it up real quick,” said fellow linebacker Frankie Luvu. “He’s coming on a long way, real quick for a rookie taking everything as early as it is in camp.”
Most teams don’t spend much time in their base defenses, but with Jamin Davis spending most of his time as a pass-rusher, Magee has been lined up with Bobby Wagner and Luvu when the unit has three linebackers on the field.
Magee, who earned a single-digit jersey number at Temple for his leadership and production, was a highly productive player for the Owls, ranking eighth with 80 tackles in the AAC last season. He was also third in the conference in tackles for loss.
Austin Ekeler
Ekeler wasn’t as productive as he wanted to be in 2023, partly because of a high ankle sprain. After three days of action, he’s clearly made a full recovery.
Ekeler promised that he would be placed all over the field when he was first signed to the team in March. That prediction has been accurate, as he’s lined up as a pass-catcher and been a receiver out of the backfield.
Ekeler has split reps with Robinson as the primary running back, showing that he still has plenty of shiftiness to his skill set. He started Day 2 by sprinting up the middle of the defense and made two players miss before cutting upfield. The next day, he scampered through a hole in the defensive front and had a clear path to the end zone.
The Commanders needed more out of their running backs in 2023, as they ranked last in run rate and had the most unbalanced run-pass ratio in the NFL. If Ekeler is able to show some of his old self on Sundays, it will go a long way towards solving that problem and provide more of a security blanket for Daniels as he navigates his rookie season.
Commanders.com
Training camp notebook | Jayden Daniels unbothered by QB battle, embracing competition
Quinn laid out a clear structure for how the quarterback position was going to function for at least the next few weeks of camp. Some days might feature more of either Daniels or Marcus Mariota than the other, but that shouldn’t be taken as an indicator of someone “winning” the starting job.
Quinn doesn’t view it as a motivational tactic. In fact, he added that Daniels is “an extremely motivated player” without any extra help from the coaching staff. It speaks more to his approach to the team. He has encouraged competition from the start of his tenure, and that applies to all positions.
“As we’re going through this whole process, let’s make sure if we are going to be about the competition and how things are going to go, we’re not going to miss one step of their development and that’s what this time of year is for,” Quin said.
ESPN
Jayden Daniels OK competing for Commanders’ starting job
The Washington Commanders did not anoint second overall pick Jayden Daniels as the starting quarterback entering training camp.
The last time Daniels was in a similar spot: two years ago at LSU. He won the job and a year later won the Heisman Trophy. That’s why he is not bothered by whether or not he is designated as the starter with the season more than a month away.
During the first three days of practice, Mariota has typically been the first quarterback in full-team work, while Daniels has often gone first in 7-on-7 sessions. But he has also taken the first snaps in situational work, such as in the red zone or in the two-minute portion.
But no matter how Daniels plays right now, Washington won’t budge from its stated desire to take its time. On Tuesday, when the veterans reported, Quinn said it wasn’t a secret what their desire is for Daniels and the starting job. He also called it a “journey and a process.”
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders’ camp crash course sparks life into Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Things are looking up for the second-year cornerback.
It’s early days at training camp, but Forbes is already showing signs of life. The Commanders gave him a starting spot on the outside opposite Benjamin St-Juste in their core base defense. This was a supreme vote of confidence in his potential to bounce back. Capitalizing on it to secure prominent involvement is imperative.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. are keen to give Forbes all he can handle as part of his development. This involves going up against Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin constantly during drills and scrimmages.
More importantly, there’s an aggressiveness attached to Forbes’ play that was missing last season. That’s arguably the biggest positive above all else.
Quinn also stated that he’s put on 15-18 pounds to help cope better with the physicality aspect of playing the position.
Podcasts & videos
‘You’ve Just Got to Prove It Over and Over Again’ | 1-on-1 Interview with Brian Robinson Jr.
Tyler Biadasz is the center of the Commanders offensive line
On video wrapping up day 3 of training camp. Jayden Daniels: his comments and his play . Brandon Coleman — got some work at RT as well. Mike Davis with a pick. More. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/OJZTc9W9dk
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 26, 2024
Episode 874 – #Commanders Training Camp discussion & analysis. Blunt Sam Cosmi rips Eric Bieniemy’s play-calling & praises Jayden Daniels. Dan Quinn on Daniels, game management & Jamin Davis. And more.
I also talk #Nats getting no-hit & wild #Orioles win.https://t.co/cqRgXaR5dr
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) July 26, 2024
Jayden Daniels says it’s ‘not a problem’ not to be named the Commanders’ starting QB yet
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | One week down
The Washington Commanders wrapped up their first week of training camp on Friday. Check out the best photos from the action.
NFC East links
ESPN
NFL training camp 2024 live updates: Latest on roster battles
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Expectations are much higher for cornerback DaRon Bland after leading the league with nine interceptions and setting an NFL record with five returns for a touchdown last season. During team drills Friday, Bland broke quickly on a Dak Prescott pass, making a diving interception that had his teammates in awe.
“Last year, that first-year starter, when you have that type of production … now teams have the chance to study you, I’m excited,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “You talk about a guy that brings his lunch bucket every day and goes to work. Very detailed. He had a great offseason program, but I’m right there with you: I think it’s going to be really cool.”— Todd Archer
(Last update: July 26)
New York Giants
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers hasn’t even played a game and already he’s calling his own number. This came about because coach Brian Daboll asked what play the young receiver preferred during a two-minute drill at Giants practice on Friday.
“I said, ‘Well, let’s throw a go-ball,’” Nabers said. It didn’t matter if there was going to be press coverage. Nabers told quarterback Daniel Jones he should “just throw it up.”
Well, Jones did just that. He fired a strike deep down the right sideline that Nabers hauled in for a monster gain. Two plays later, Jones ran in a touchdown to salvage an otherwise rough day. He missed several other downfield throws, including one behind Nabers, coming across the field, and another where Wan’Dale Robinson was racing down the right sideline alone.
On a positive note, at least the Giants are listening to Nabers and throwing downfield with Jones, something they didn’t do last season. — Jordan Raanan
(Last update: July 26)
Washington Commanders
Washington coach Dan Quinn said cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., a 2023 first-round pick, has added 15 pounds since last year. He’s now listed at 173 pounds. Forbes said in the spring he focused on strength training, wanting to add muscle after a disappointing rookie season.
But, more than his size, he was hurt by not playing with the same level of confidence as he did at Mississippi State — and having his inconsistent technique hinder his performance. During camp, though, Forbes has played faster and more aggressively. He said defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s system allows for more freedom by cutting down responsibilities. That, in turn, helps Forbes play faster.
He has worked often versus veteran receiver Terry McLaurin. On Thursday, Forbes broke up two passes thrown to McLaurin because of aggressive tight coverage.
“They let me play my game,” Forbes said. “Just make the plays that come towards me. As long as I’m trying to make a play on the ball, it will be all right.” — John Keim
(Last update: July 26)
NFL league links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
NFL players want to modify media’s locker room access for privacy reasons
The NFL controls media access policies and has given no indication that it intends to make major changes to locker room procedures.
The union has had discussions on the issue with the league and with the Pro Football Writers of America. Howell said the NFLPA is not attempting to keep reporters from doing their jobs or to reduce the amount of time during which players would be available to media members.
“I’ve heard and I’ve seen all the reasons why the media is hesitant or resistant to changing it: [Players] duck out of the back. They don’t want to do the interview. The list goes on and on,” Howell said. “But there are other ways to kind of address those challenges, too. … The desire isn’t in any way to prevent [reporters from having access to players]. The desire is, ‘Let me be decent.’ ”
It’s not clear whether the NFLPA will succeed in its attempt or, if it does, what the timing for the implementation of any prospective changes would be. A modification for the upcoming season seems unlikely, given that the NFL’s 2024 media policy already has been set and distributed. The league controls the sport’s media policies and, while it has expressed a willingness to listen to the players’ privacy concerns, it has not signaled an intention to make a change.
The current NFL media policy says that player privacy in the locker room “is of paramount importance.” It calls for the locker-room shower area to be “screened from view” and says that teams must supply players with “wrap-around towels” or robes. The policy says that teams are “urged to take other measures” such as placing a pair of shorts in each player’s locker or building individual locker curtains. A team communications staffer is to inform players and coaches when the locker room is about to be opened to the media.
The policy calls for players to be available to reporters after games and four times during a normal practice week, with open locker rooms for at least 45 minutes on each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The PFWA informed its members recently that the union had suggested having players and media members interact in a designated mixed zone outside the locker room, similar to the system utilized in international soccer and at the Olympics. There also were discussions about potentially extending the waiting period after games (currently 10 to 15 minutes) before locker rooms are opened to the media.
Discussion topics
The amount of anger over QB salaries/salaries overall in professional sports that I read on here is hilarious. Some of you really need to sit back and understand how big this machine called professional sports is. These arbitrary nonsensical arguments about “he isn’t worth this,…
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) July 27, 2024