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Albert Breer: Five Takeaways From Commanders Training Camp
Washington continues to upgrade its roster, Jayden Daniels’s next steps as a QB and a seventh-round RB makes an impression.
There’s an unquestioned belief in the Commanders’ facility that the talent has, for the second consecutive offseason, been upgraded in a huge way.
[T]he improvement is noticeable on the line of scrimmage. On offense, the tackle position has been overhauled, with Laremy Tunsil, at 31, looking like the Pro Bowler he’s always been, and first-rounder Josh Conerly
Jr. (who was seen by Washington as one of the top 10 or so players in the draft) settling in nicely at right tackle. Those additions enabled the coaches to move second-year man Brandon Coleman inside and, perhaps, turn an average line into a team strength.
Meanwhile, on defense, former first-rounder Javon Kinlaw has been a revelation. GM Adam Peters had institutional knowledge of Kinlaw, having drafted him in San Francisco. He and the staff saw a player who was a COVID-19 rookie, who sustained a nasty injury early in his career. He never had a real training camp before this summer, giving a player with a lot of upside to tap into.
The corner spot is much better than it was a year ago, with Marshon Lattimore looking more like his New Orleans-era self, rookie Trey Amos quickly emerging as a starting-level player, and Mike Sainristil able to settle in at the slot position, with the outside spots taken care of. There’s depth there, too, with vets Noah Igbinoghene and Jonathan Jones. Meanwhile, at safety, third-year man Quan Martin emerged as the breakout star of camp over the past month, playing faster and becoming more vocal as a leader alongside veterans Will Harris and Jeremy Reaves.
As for McLaurin, I think the negotiation is in a better spot than it’s been, but the sides started out pretty far apart, so there was a lot of ground to make up. Maybe the deadlines in the next couple of weeks will help push an agreement through.
[R]ookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is looming as a reason why the team feels so comfortable walking away from a solid, dependable veteran. His burst and speed are noticeable. But he’s not the biggest guy, and it’s hard to determine how much work will be too much for him. Washington could add another body at the position, but the emergence of the seventh-rounder Croskey-Merritt has made that more of a want than a need. Add the potential here to the improvement of the line, and the involvement of Daniels in the run game, and there’s a lot of room for OC Kliff Kingsbury to generate big plays on the ground.
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Film Review: Javon Kinlaw vs Bengals
[A]s that drive progressed, we did see Kinlaw do better in the run game. In fact, he made two very strong plays down near the goal line.
Down inside the five yard line, the Bengals look to pound the ball into the end zone with a handoff inside. Kinlaw lines up on the inside shoulder of the right guard. At the snap of the ball, we immediately see better technique from Kinlaw. Instead of popping upright, he stays much lower. It’s not perfect technique because if you look closely, you’ll see he actually takes his first step with his front foot, instead of driving off his back foot. But he still does a much better job staying low and not popping straight upright off the snap. As a result, he explodes up into the right guard, who has to try and block him one-on-one as the center immediately works up to linebacker Frankie Luvu.
With this improved technique, Kinlaw looks almost impossible to block. He gets his hands inside into the chest of the guard and uses his momentum and leverage to drive the guard backwards. Kinlaw shoves the guard back a yard behind the line of scrimmage before extending his right arm to stack him up and hold him at arms length while he looks behind him at the running back. Kinlaw can see the running back immediately cutting his run back inside, away from Kinlaw’s side, so he drops his inside arm while stabbing with his outside arm to quickly shed the block of the guard as he works down the line to make the tackle.
It was an impressive play from Kinlaw and it shows what he is capable of doing with improved technique. He showed that improved technique again just a few plays later.
Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders trade Brian Robinson Jr. to 49ers for sixth-round draft pick
Robinson has been the starting running back for Washington, but as other options emerged during training camp, the fourth-year player became expendable.
The Washington Commanders traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick, according to a person familiar with the situation, ending a week of speculation that Washington would cut ties with its incumbent starting running back.
Robinson, 26, rushed for 2,329 yards over 41 games in his three seasons with Washington after the Commanders selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft. He overcame a tumultuous start to his career, returning early in his rookie season after he was shot in Washington.
While Croskey-Merritt has become popular for his background, his elusive running style and his “Bill” nickname, Rodriguez figures to get more carries and the majority of Washington’s running back touches near the goal line.
ESPN
NFL trade grades: Brian Robinson Jr., Devaughn Vele, more
49ers get: RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Commanders get: 2026 sixth-round pick
49ers grade: B-
Commanders grade: B
The Commanders seemingly deemed him expendable after the emergence of Chris Rodriguez Jr. and rookie seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt this summer.
Robinson, a third-round pick in 2022, has amassed between 733 and 799 rushing yards in each of his three seasons in Washington. He has also consistently gotten what’s blocked for him but not much more: He has recorded either 0.1 or 0.2 rush yards over expectation in each of his three seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It’s possible that veteran Jeremy McNichols could get some of the goal-line work.
In San Francisco, Christian McCaffrey will handle the receiving role, and presumably this acquisition is to spell the team’s star running back from some of his carries. The 49ers had been banged up at running back, though backup Isaac Guerendo is now back at practice.
The 49ers needed the depth, but considering Robinson is on a one-year deal (albeit at a cheap price) and I’m not sure he’s any more than the third-best back on the team, a sixth-round pick is a little more than I’d want to deal for him.
NFL.com
Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 30-21: OROY Jayden Daniels debuts
Daniels’ ascension to rising star in Washington was what the Commanders needed, and he delivered for a memorable season. Daniels won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and took Washington to its first NFC Championship Game since 1991. Heading into his second season, the Commanders’ bright star wants to avoid a sophomore slump by eliminating certain tendencies. Washington in the offseason surrounded its dual-threat QB with Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel in hopes of making another deep postseason run.
NFL Pro Insight for Daniels: Jayden Daniels threw for 3,160 yards (seventh-most) while completing 68.5% (ninth-highest) of his passes from shotgun formations last season. Daniels attempted just 14 passes from under center in 2024, tied for the second-fewest among any of the 36 qualified quarterbacks (11/14, 105 yards, 2 TD). All 14 of his under center pass attempts featured play action.
Washington Post (paywall)
What to watch for as the Commanders close out the preseason
Cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., a mid-camp signing, may be one player to watch. Quinn complimented him this week for how quickly he got up to speed.
The final wideout spot may also be up for grabs. Luke McCaffrey has had a quiet camp, but he figures to be safe as a 2024 third-round pick. K.J. Osborn could snag the last spot because of his reliability, speed and ability to contribute at punt returner if rookie Jaylin Lane suffers an injury. Chris Moore, a veteran who ended last year on the practice squad, is another player Quinn has mentioned as a potential outside receiver.
At offensive line, the Commanders seem set after signing veteran tackle George Fant this week. Could new signing Nick Harris make enough of an impression for them to consider him as a backup center over Michael Deiter?
Commanders coaches were excited to measure the progression of linebacker Jordan Magee and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste after both 2024 draft picks had a promising spring practice. But both players suffered injuries early in training camp and only returned to full practice participation this week. Both will make their preseason debuts.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders preseason: WR depth, RB room among 5 lingering questions ahead of finale
How will special teams determine the final spots?
Special teams always factor into roster building. It’s how many players land on rosters and eventually prove themselves on offense or defense. Just ask safety Jeremy Reaves.
If a roster spot comes down to two players to fill the bottom of the roster, the player who contributes on special teams will almost always get the nod. It could also be the reason some positional groups keep a fourth, fifth or sixth player, while others are shortchanged.
Washington’s safety corps is loaded with special teams aces: Reaves, Percy Butler and Tyler Owens. Its linebacking corps will include a spot for Nick Bellore because of his work on special teams. Tight end Colson Yankoff has a chance to land on the 53 largely because of his contributions on special teams.
The number of running backs the Commanders keep will also be tied to special teams.
“I think with kickoff returning at a premium now too, ‘OK, does the returner have those running back traits?’” Quinn said earlier in camp. “It’ll be interesting to see in this year and the years ahead, how many of those returners are running backs, how many are receivers, and it will definitely factor into the final roster. Most teams also have additional running backs on the practice squad that can get elevated, but it’s definitely more, and I do think that the special teams are a really big factor in that. So, having that additional value, that’s a big deal.”
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders are placing a significant amount of faith in rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt
It’s no coincidence that Robinson’s name began to surface in trade talks following an offseason in which seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has stolen all of the backfield headlines. The Arizona product impressed in early offseason camps, continued to turn heads throughout training camp, and then emphatically announced himself to the NFL world with a 27-yard touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
Evidently, Washington’s front office had seen enough to determine he possesses a much higher upside than Robinson, who reportedly fell out of favor with the coaching staff due to concerns about his aggression and durability.
It may seem like a gamble to trust a seventh-round rookie to immediately step into a featured role, but aside from kicker, running back is perhaps the most replaceable position in football. For a late-round or undrafted player, it’s the easiest to succeed at. It’s firmly reasonable to assume Croskey-Merritt can provide significant value right away.
The Commanders are no strangers to running back success stories. Sixth-round pick Alfred Morris surpassed veterans Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster, and Tim Hightower on Washington’s depth chart en route to being named the Week 1 starter 13 years ago. He rushed for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in a rookie season that earned him second-team All-Pro honors.
Croskey-Merritt probably won’t reach those same totals, as Austin Ekeler can be expected to take most of the third-down snaps and could start to begin the year. Chris Rodriguez Jr. and/or Jeremy McNichols also figure to be involved, provided they survive roster cuts. This will be a backfield by committee, and that’s not even including the designed runs that quarterback Jayden Daniels will have drawn up for him.
Commanders.com
Chris Rodriguez Jr. has eyes on bigger role in Year 3
Rodriguez’s prioritized building up his legs this offseason with aspirations to make Washington’s 53-man roster.
“One of my main things I was working on was my speed,” Rodriguez said. “I think last year I hit 20 miles per hour maybe three times throughout the whole year, and I hit that more times this year in training camp than I did almost all of last year.”
Rodriguez trained with Lily Abdelmalek, Owner and Head Trainer of Dynamics of Speed + Agility (DSA) Sports Performance, at her facility in Rodriguez’s home state of Georgia.
“She had me doing mat drills,” Rodriguez said of his time training with Abdelmalek. “A couple of guys here actually were with her as well. But she’s tough and I could see it translate onto the field as soon as I got out here.”
Commanders.com
3 standouts from Commanders training camp
Trey Amos
It’s rare for a rookie to be an immediate standout in the NFL. The Commanders managed to draft two such players last year in Jayden Daniels and Mike Sainristil. They seem to have added another one this year in Amos.
Amos, who the Commanders considered taking with their first-round pick, was placed among the defensive starters and played well against Washington’s best weapons. He’s disrupted the timing between the quarterback and receiver, which has led to either incompletions or pass breakups. An example of the latter came during the team’s Burgundy and Gold scrimmage, when he laid out to swat away a pass to KJ Osborn.
The only disappointment surrounding Amos is who he hasn’t been matched up with. Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown have not been at practice for their own reasons, and while they will return to the field at some point, the Commanders would have preferred to give Amos more competition against bigger wideouts. He was also held out during the Bengals’ preseason game, which means he didn’t get to cover Tee Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase.
Still, Amos has risen to every challenge the Commanders have given him, and barring injury, he is expected to be a mainstay of their starting defense this season.
A to Z Sports
A positive update on WR Noah Brown
When training camp started, we expected Brown to miss some time because of his injury at minicamp, but he was practicing and looked really good. All of the drills and his movement looked sharp on day one.
Then, he was pulled back from practicing, and we haven’t seen him in a while. Commanders HC Dan Quinn finally provided an update on Brown with the season less than three weeks away.
“He’s also kind of pushing past the rehab portion of the strength side and now on the return to play, the accelerations, the deceleration,” Quinn told the media. “So yeah, he’s close as well. And as he’s targeting through this week and into next week, the arrow is certainly pointing really up for him, and we’re pleased with where he is at. So yeah, good signs with Noah too.”
Podcasts & videos
Quinn’s Final Practice ROLLER COASTER | Daniels’ Leadership & A NEW Voice Emerges
Jayden Daniels is too cold – Chris Canty tells Stephen A. Commanders are most team to watch in NFL
49ers Trade for Commanders’ RB Brian Robinson Jr. + Fantasy Football Impact
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Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles Film Analysis: Offensive line depth concerns
This is probably the most concerned I have been about the Eagles’ offensive line depth for a few years. The backups weren’t quite as bad as I feared after watching live, but they still struggled, especially in the run game. The team couldn’t get much going on the ground, and the pass protection was inconsistent. I had higher hopes for Matt Pryor this off-season, but he didn’t look great throughout. On this snap, he struggled badly to handle a stunt, which ended up leading to a sack. The Eagles had likely been counting on his veteran leadership to steady things, so this was a disappointment. I’m particularly concerned about the tackle situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a move for another offensive lineman. I don’t think the young guys are ready.
NFL.com
2025 NFL preseason, Week 3: What We Learned from Friday’s games
Eagles kick tires on newest wide receiver. John Metchie III saw a solid amount of playing time just five days after his arrival from Houston. The former second-round pick hauled in a 14-yard pass on Philadelphia’s first play from scrimmage, fending off a Jets defender at the end of comeback route near the sideline. Metchie was targeted again soon after on a similar route, but Kyle McCord’s pass would’ve been too high for most receivers. The Eagles lined up Metchie on the outside and in the slot across 17 total snaps, putting him in motion a couple times to try to create more opportunity, but his debut ended with the one grab on two targets. Philly is largely set at receiver but an issue of depth was raised following a season-ending injury to Johnny Wilson. Metchie portends to fill that void and the Eagles got a good look at their trade acquisition with the season opener less than two weeks away.
Big Blue View
Commanders trade RB Brian Robinson to the 49ers: What does it mean for the Giants?
This comes as something of a mixed blessing for the New York Giants, who have been absolutely gashed by Robinson since he became Washington’s starting running back. Most notably, he ran for 133 yards on 17 carries (7.3 yards per attempt) against the Giants in Week 2 last year. While he didn’t score a touchdown, that’s cold comfort considering Washington still won the game.
Robinson passed 100 total yards in three of his five games against the Giants and eclipsed 7.0 yards per carry twice since 2022.
On that front, it’s a welcome sight to see him moved out of the division. However, the Giants haven’t seen the last of him, as they’ll play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9 this year.
ESPN
‘Dak’s gotta be able to run’. How will Prescott’s hamstring affect his usage in 2025?
The Cowboys’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles is less than two weeks away, and for the sixth straight year Prescott will enter the season without any preseason work.
Dallas has won two of their past three season openers, but Prescott has not topped 180 yards passing and has totaled one touchdown and one interception. In the blowout wins against the Cleveland Browns (2024) and New York Giants (2023), the Cowboys did not need Prescott to play Superman.
Prior to suffering the hamstring injury, Prescott never had more than two runs in a game last season. Leading into the Falcons game, Prescott promised to use his legs more. He had a 22-yard run in that game, but after a third-quarter scramble he felt a pull in his right leg. Setting up to pass a couple plays later, Prescott’s leg gave out.
His game and season were over.
In 2018, he had a career-high 75 carries for 305 yards. He ran for 18 touchdowns in his first three years, six in each season. From 2019 to 2024, he totaled 11 rushing touchdowns.
In 2020, he suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. In his first four seasons, he ran for at least 277 yards. Since the ankle injury, he has topped 200 yards once (242 in 2023).
“Dak’s gotta be able to run,” Schottenheimer said. “Quarterbacks run in this league. That’s what they do. Now, are we going to come out the first play of the season against Philadelphia and run power read with the quarterback? No, probably not.
“But at the end of the day, he’s got to move. He’s got to make plays. He’s got to extend plays. Can we run him? Sure, we’ll run him. And he’s a good athlete. He has to be smart, getting down. Hey if he’s in danger, slide. Get down. And that’s what all the great ones do.”
Pro Football Talk
Micah Parsons sends a message on sideline of Cowboys’ preseason game
Although he reported to AT&T Stadium for the preseason finale against the Falcons, Parsons was the only player to not wear his jersey. And he spent time on the training table, projecting a general vibe of disinterest in the contest and disinclination to be present for it.
Three weeks ago today, Parsons posted a public plea to be traded. He has not rescinded his request.
Although the Cowboys have shown no willingness to trade him, the question becomes whether Parsons play in the regular-season opener at Philadelphia, in only 13 days.
He has not practiced during training camp, citing back tightness. Jones has expressed skepticism about the injury, brushing it off as a negotiating tactic.
[A]t this point, Jones seems to be daring Parsons to not play.
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Pro Football Talk
Report: Derrick Harmon to miss 4-6 weeks but will not go on IR
An MRI confirmed the MCL sprain in the knee of Steelers first-round defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Harmon will miss 4-6 weeks, per Dulac, which means the 21st overall pick will be expected to miss between 2-4 games with the season opener not until Sept. 7.
The Steelers thus are not expected to place Harmon on injured reserve.
Harmon was expected to be the team’s only rookie starter on defense.
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Washington Post (paywall)
NFL primer: A crackdown on violent and sexual player celebrations
The NFL has made sportsmanship a point of emphasis for this season. Also, five things to watch before the season and more in our weekly primer.
The NFL is making sportsmanship and illegal celebrations by players a point of emphasis for its on-field officials this season.
The officials have stressed that to players and coaches during their visits to teams’ training camps, according to Walt Anderson, the NFL’s officiating rules analyst.
“It’s just one of those areas that the league wants to work actively on,” Anderson said during a video news conference Thursday. “There are plenty of ways for players to be able to celebrate. And they come up with some very unique and often entertaining ways. So we want them to focus on those and not the inappropriate areas.”
Infractions will result in 15-yard penalties.
“[T]aunting was up, I believe, about 55 percent last year. Unsportsmanlike gestures, whether they were either simulating either shooting a gun or brandishing of a gun or inappropriate gestures like a throat-slash or unfortunate sexual gestures that were made, those were up almost 133 percent. … The officials have made it a point of emphasis to all of the clubs.”
