As the Commanders' training camp progresses, players continue to fine-tune their skills, with a particular emphasis on red-zone work. Tuesday’s practice marked the sixth of the camp, the third with fans in attendance, and the second in full pads, providing an electric yet rigorous environment. The spotlight was on Jayden Daniels, who is splitting first-team reps with Marcus Mariota.
Daniels Shines and Struggles
Daniels showcased his arm and connection with his teammates during 11-on-11 sessions, hitting Olamide Zaccheaus with a beautifully-thrown deep ball up the right sideline. He also connected with Jahan Dotson along the sideline and made a solid throw to Terry McLaurin up the opposite sideline. Perhaps the highlight of his day was in the final team session, where Daniels found Dotson and completed a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Daniels. A bungled handoff with Jeremy McNichols and a series of missed throws in a row exposed areas for improvement. Still, the young quarterback’s resilience was evident as he continued to strive for consistency.
Brandon Coleman's Trial by Fire
Rookie Brandon Coleman found himself in a challenging position, playing with both the first and second teams at left and right tackle. Facing off against veterans Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell, Coleman's experience has been a baptism by fire. “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 shared.
The determination to improve is clear in Coleman’s mindset. “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," Coleman added.
Tremayne and Sainristil Make Their Mark
One of the standout performances came from Tremayne, who recovered from an early drop to make two impressive downfield catches from Mariota. Tremayne has seen plenty of action with the second team, continuing to prove his value. Meanwhile, Mike Sainristil has been a constant presence on the starting defense, offering leadership and loud, clear communication during sessions. Sainristil's effort extends to the return game, where Washington has explored his potential.
“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.” Sainristil remarked, emphasizing his dedication.
Newton's First-Team Debut and Young Edges Stand Out
Jer'Zhan Newton got his first taste of first-team reps during this camp, making noticeable contributions such as forcing McNichols to cut back during a play. Alongside Newton, young edge rushers K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste made their presence felt, flashing potential and energy during practice.
Special Teams and Other Highlights
Special teams also saw some strong 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.
Dotson, despite having a couple of drops, has been one of the most consistent performers in camp, confidently stating, "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."
With fierce training sessions, the Commanders continue to build momentum and cohesion. As veterans sharpen their leadership and rookies embrace the league's challenges, the blend of skill improvement and team dynamics suggests a promising trajectory for the team this season.