As the Commanders' training camp continues to intensify, both established players and rising stars are honing their skills with a particular emphasis on red-zone efficiency. Tuesday marked the sixth practice of the camp, featuring the third session with fans in attendance and the second in full pads.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels is making an impact, sharing first-team reps with veteran Marcus Mariota. Amid the competitive environment, Daniels has shown a flair for connecting with his wide receivers, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus with a deep ball up the right sideline during 11-on-11 drills. Daniels also linked up with Jahan Dotson along the sideline and delivered a solid throw to Terry McLaurin on the opposite side. In a climactic final team session, Daniels found Dotson again and completed a touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz.
Despite these highlights, Daniels has faced challenges, including a bungled handoff with running back Jeremy McNichols and a few consecutive missed throws. These moments of inconsistency underscore the competitive nature of the camp and the pressure on players to perform consistently.
Offensive lineman Brandon Coleman has been a versatile presence, playing on both the first and second teams at left and right tackle. Coleman faced off against veterans such as Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell, further proving his adaptability and competency. Coleman reflected on his development, noting, "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.'" Coleman also acknowledged the nuanced challenges of competing at a professional level, stating, "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."
Wide receiver Jahan Dotson has emerged as one of the most consistent performers throughout the camp. Reflecting on his growing confidence and improved performance, Dotson said, "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." His rapport with Daniels will be crucial as the Commanders look to bolster their offensive attack.
Defensively, Mike Sainristil has been a constant presence, both starting and participating in the return game. Sainristil emphasized his relentless playing style, saying, "Part of it is just my play style. 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." His dedication to maintaining intensity through every play provides a model for his teammates.
Jer'Zhan Newton got his first taste of first-team reps, making an immediate impact by forcing McNichols to cut back during a play. Meanwhile, K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste made their presence felt, demonstrating that the defensive line is gearing up to be a formidable unit.
Special teams also saw standout performances, particularly from kicker Ramiz Ahmed, who did not miss any field goals during the team portion of Tuesday's practice. Ahmed showcased his range by hitting field goals from as far as 51 yards with plenty of distance.
The Commanders' training camp is progressing with a clear focus on building chemistry, consistency, and competitiveness. As the players continue to push their limits, the coaching staff will be keenly observing who can translate practice achievements into game-day performance.