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Jayden Daniels Jayden Daniels Splits starting reps to begin camp
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 11:41 AM
Coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday that Daniels and Marcus Mariota are splitting first-team reps to begin training camp, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
Analysis: "When [Daniels] is ready, we'll know," Quinn said. During June minicamp it was Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, who received most of the first-team reps, but it sounds as though the Commanders want him to now earn the starting job. All things considered, it would come as a surprise if Mariota and not Daniels opened the season under center for Washington, but the team has yet to name a Week 1 starter, and it could take until the preseason before clarity on the quarterback competition is provided. Daniels may need some time to fully acclimate to the aerial components of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme, but even if he's rough around the edges early on, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner projects as a high-upside fantasy option right off the bat due to his tremendous dual-threat ability. |
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Terry McLaurin Terry McLaurin Optimistic about new-look offense
Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:46 AM
McLaurin said this summer that the offseason felt "like the start of something new, special," Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Commanders have mostly addressed shortcomings with band-aids throughout McLaurin's tenure, but the changes this offseason were drastic, highlighted by new head coach Dan Quinn and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels. The latter figures to become the 10th different starting QB that McLaurin has played with in the NFL, and Kliff Kingsbury is the fourth offensive coordinator. The veteran wideout said Daniels was impressive during spring practices, showing "amazing" touch on his deep ball and "really good anticipation over the middle of the field." It remains to be seen how that translates to actual games, but there's at least some chance of McLaurin experiencing above-average QB play for the first time in his career. |
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Jahan Dotson Jahan Dotson Optimistic about Kingsbury's offense
Sun, Jun 23, 2024, 5:19 PM
Dotson recently told reporters it's been "really nice" having a simplified approach under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Dotson wasn't a good fit under former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose scheme emphasized screen passes and other quick throws that relied on yards after the catch. That's not Dotson's strength, nor did it help that Sam Howell was one of the least accurate QBs on deep passes. Kingsbury and No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels may prove to be better fits for Dotson, but it would still be unwise to completely ignore his 2023 struggles. Out of 81 qualified wide receivers, he was 73rd in yards per target (6.2), 77th in yards per route (0.79), 78th in YAC average (2.1) and 78th in target rate (12.7 percent). Dotson had five more yards and three more TDs in five fewer games back in 2022, when he was the 16th overall draft pick and a Week 1 starter. The upcoming season will be his fifth in a row with a new coordinator/playcaller, dating back to his junior year at Penn State. |
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Jayden Daniels Jayden Daniels Works with starters at minicamp
Sun, Jun 23, 2024, 4:34 PM
Daniels got most of the first-team reps at June minicamp, Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports.
Analysis: Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, RB Austin Ekeler and head coach Dan Quinn all offered glowing praise during minicamp, mentioning Daniels' work ethic, leadership and understanding of Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Even so, Quinn hasn't determined a Week 1 starter and said the plan all along was for Daniels and Marcus Mariota to split first-team snaps during spring practices, per John Keim of ESPN.com. Reports from training camp in late July and early August should provide a better idea as to whether Daniels is truly competing with Mariota or is all but locked in for the Week 1 start at Tampa Bay. |
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Dax Milne Dax Milne Back at minicamp
Thu, Jun 13, 2024, 4:27 PM
Milne (groin) was spotted working out during the Commanders' mandatory minicamp session Thursday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Milne missed all of Washington's 2023 campaign due to a groin injury sustained in late August of last year, but it now seems as if he's moved past the issue. The BYU product was the Commanders' primary return man the last time he was on the field (2022), tallying 311 punt return yards and 300 kick return yards in 15 games. Now that he's returned to form, expect Milne to compete for another special teams role as the offseason continues. |
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Armani Rogers Armani Rogers Past Achilles injury
Wed, Jun 12, 2024, 4:08 PM
Rogers (Achilles) was spotted participating during Commanders' OTAs, Bryan Manning of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Rogers missed all of Washington's 2023 campaign due to a torn Achilles tendon, but it now seems as if he's moved past the issue. The 26-year-old appeared in 11 games in 2022, catching five of his six targets for 64 yards while playing 375 total snaps (158 on offense). Now that Rogers is back at full health, he's expected to compete for a depth role in the Commanders' tight end room. |
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Chris Rodriguez Chris Rodriguez Likely RB3 for Washington
Fri, May 24, 2024, 4:33 PM
With the Commanders not selecting a running back in last month's draft, Rodriguez profiles as the team's No. 3 option at running back behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson,Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Per Standig, Rodriguez, who's presumably past his late-season ankle issue, appears to be the clear early-down backup to Robinson. However, with Ekeler also in the mix and destined to see plenty of touches, notably in passing situations, Rodriguez doesn't initially have a path to steady volume as the 2024 season approaches. As a rookie, the 2023 sixth-rounder recorded 51 carries for 247 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches for 12 yards in 13 regular-season contests. Also currently in the Commanders' depth RB mix are Jeremy McNichols, Austin Jones and Michael Wiley (thumb). |
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Damiere Byrd Damiere Byrd Headed to nation's capital
Wed, May 15, 2024, 8:56 PM
Byrd agreed to a contract with the Commanders on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Byrd appeared in just one game during the 2023 campaign after the Falcons elevated him from the practice squad in early November. The 31-year-old had previously played 14 games with Atlanta in 2022, collecting 13 receptions (on 23 targets) for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Byrd has played for five teams during his career, and he'll now reunite in Washington with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was Bryd's head coach in Arizona during the 2019 season. |
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Zach Ertz Zach Ertz Facing threat from second-round rookie?
Wed, May 1, 2024, 1:53 PM
Rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott is a threat to take playing time from Ertz, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ertz signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Commanders early in the offseason, getting about two-thirds of the money guaranteed. It's backup-level money, but with a good chance at a starting job given the lack of veteran competition at TE in Washington. Sinnott looks like a real threat, however, coming in as a second-rounder after putting up a 49-676-6 receiving line his final year at Kansas State and then running a 4.68 40 at 6-4, 250. The rookie could steal enough playing time to make Ertz irrelevant for fantasy even if the 33-year-old gets most of the snaps in clear passing situations early on. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Likely headed for backup role again
Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 8:36 AM
Mariota will be joined by fellow Heisman winner and No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels in Washington's QB room.
Analysis: The incoming rookie was a four-year college starter (five if you count a COVID-shortened season) and is already 23 years old, making him a strong bet to quickly take over as QB1 in Washington. Mariota presumably knew the Commanders were likely to use the No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback when he signed with them in March, but the team at least traded Sam Howell to Seattle, leaving the 30-year-old unchallenged for a backup role. It remains to be seen how the Commanders divide reps between Daniels and Mariota this spring and into summer. |
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Jeff Driskel Jeff Driskel Joining Washington's QB corps
Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 2:26 PM
The Commanders have signed Driskel.
Analysis: Driskel, who has appeared in 24 regular-season contests (including 12 starts) during his NFL career, last saw game action Week 18 with the Browns when he drew a spot start in place of Joe Flacco, who the team elected to rest ahead of the 2023 postseason. With the Commanders, Driskel adds depth to a QB corps that also includes Marcus Mariota and Jake Fromm and likely will be rounded out by a first-round rookie later this month. |
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Jeremy McNichols Jeremy McNichols Gets chance with Washington
Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 9:21 AM
The Commanders signed McNichols to a contract Monday.
Analysis: McNichols spent most of the 2023 season on the 49ers' practice squad. He did suit up for three regular-season games with San Francisco, but he played exclusively on special teams (20 snaps). This offseason, McNichols will get a chance to compete for a depth role behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson. |
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Olamide Zaccheaus Olamide Zaccheaus Moving on to Washington
Thu, Mar 28, 2024, 3:21 PM
Zaccheaus has agreed to a deal with the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: In his only campaign with the Eagles, Zaccheaus (who caught 40 passes with the Falcons in 2022) finished the 2023 regular season with 10 catches for 164 yards and two TDs in 17 games. With the Commanders, the 26-year-old will add depth to a wideout corps that is currently led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. In that context, Zaccheaus has some bounce-back potential if he can carve out steady snaps in 2024 behind the team's top duo. |
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Jamison Crowder Jamison Crowder Staying in Washington
Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 5:24 PM
Crowder is re-signing with the Commanders for one season, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
Analysis: Crowder spent his first four season in Washington (2015-18) and made his way back to the Commanders last fall. He had one big game in a Week 8 loss to the Eagles but mostly served as a return specialist and depth receiver. Crowder turns 31 in August and may not have a guaranteed roster spot heading into training camp this summer. |
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Sam Howell Sam Howell Could be traded soon
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 3:51 PM
The Commanders' recent contract agreement with Marcus Mariota suggests Howell may be on the trade block, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: The other interpretation, which seems less likely, is that the Commanders will let Howell compete with Mariota for the starting job rather than drafting a quarterback early this April. The team owns the No. 2 overall pick, with most reports to date suggesting Washington will select either UNC's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels. There was a point in 2023 when it looked like the Commanders might have found their franchise QB in Howell, but he then had a 4:12 TD:INT over the final seven games of the regular season while completing only 57.7 percent of his passes for 5.4 yards per attempt. Washington went 0-7 during that stretch. The 2022 fifth-round pick ended up starting all 17 games, but only because backup Jacoby Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice shortly after being promoted to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Howell should have suitors if the Commanders decide to trade him, given that he has two years left on his rookie contract and averaged 278.3 passing yards and 1.7 TDs over the first 10 games of 2023. That said, the best he can likely hope for is a shot to compete with another player for a starting job. |
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Brian Robinson Brian Robinson New backfield competition
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 10:45 AM
Robinson is slated to compete for backfield work with veteran Austin Ekeler, whom the Commanders are set to sign to a two-year contract, Kris Rhim of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Robinson will also lose one form of competition with Antonio Gibson set to sign with the Patriots, but it's seems clear that Washington felt the need to bring in an established pass catcher out of the backfield. Ekeler is coming off the worst season of his career in terms of efficiency, though he did deal with a high-ankle sprain and questionable blocking. Robinson, on the other hand, improved his YPC to 4.1 after managing only 3.9 as a rookie, finishing with 733 rushing yards and five scores across 15 games, in addition to a respectable 36-368-4 receiving line. New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could envision Gibson as the preferred option for between-the-tackles work and Ekeler as the go-to-receiving back, but training camp could also go a long way in determining the eventual backfield split. |
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Marcus Mariota Marcus Mariota Links up with Commanders
Tue, Mar 12, 2024, 9:50 AM
Mariota is in line to sign a one-year contract with the Commanders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: After spending a year as Jalen Hurts' backup in Philadelphia, the 30-year-old Mariota will join a Washington team that has Sam Howell under contract for two more years and owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This signing would seem to hint at a desire to either trade Howell or move down in the draft. In any case, Mariota seems like a good fit with new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who tends to rely heavily on shotgun formations and avoid play calls with slow-developing routes. Mariota's one-year contract reportedly has a base value of $6 million and can go up to $10 million with incentives. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Headed to Washington
Mon, Mar 11, 2024, 6:11 PM
Ekeler is signing a two-year contract with the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The deal reportedly is worth up to $11.43 million, but with only $4.82 million guaranteed in the first season and a significant portion being incentives. Ekeler turns 29 in May and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he experienced a massive downturn from his 2021-22 production while dealing with a high-ankle sprain and poor blocking. Even if he can't recapture his peak form, he should be useful as a passing-down back given that he has 3,884 career receiving yards and 30 receiving TDs. The Commanders likely envision Ekeler and Brian Robinson sharing backfield snaps, though it might look quite a bit different than Robinson's split with Antonio Gibson in 2023 (Gibson is signing with the Patriots, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). The Commanders have a new offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) and are widely expected to acquire a new quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. |
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Zach Ertz Zach Ertz Gets one-year deal with Commanders
Wed, Mar 6, 2024, 12:57 PM
Ertz and Washington agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Ertz replaces Logan Thomas as a capable veteran atop the Commanders' tight end depth chart. He arrives in Washington with existing familiarity with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme from their time together in Arizona, where Kingsbury served as head coach from 2019 through 2022. As a result of ending last season on Detroit's practice squad, Ertz is eligible to ink a new contract before the start of the new league year March 13. Across seven games with the Cardinals last season before he was released in November, Ertz secured 27 of 43 targets for 187 yards and one touchdown. Depending on how Washington addresses its quarterback situation this offseason, Ertz could carry some fantasy value for the 2024 campaign as a volume play. |
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John Bates John Bates Catches 19 passes in 2023
Tue, Jan 23, 2024, 10:32 AM
Bates caught 19 of 28 passes for 151 yards in 17 games during the 2023 season.
Analysis: The 2021 fourth-round pick has finished each of his three pro seasons in the ranges of 22-to-28 targets, 14-to-20 receptions and 500-to-519 snaps. Bates hasn't shown the pass-catching chops to make an impact in fantasy, and he now faces some uncertainty entering the final year of his rookie contract as the Commanders bring in a new coaching staff. |
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