The Washington Commanders had more going on Saturday in Ashburn than just their third training camp practice.
With fans in the building for the NFL’s “Back Together Weekend,” Washington president Mark Clouse welcomed two Hall of Famers, John Riggins and Darrell Green, before the team took the field. But behind the scenes, general manager Adam Peters and his staff were also taking a long look at outside help, working out 10 players.
The list included some familiar and intriguing names, starting with quarterback Warner, the son of two-time NFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Warner started 41 college games across Temple, Rice and Fresno State, giving him a long track record of game experience.
Washington also checked out a pair of centers in Hill and Hartwig, which fits with the team’s concerns at the position. Hill played at Georgia and started several games there before spending time with four NFL teams.
He was most recently waived by the Tennessee Titans. Hartwig, meanwhile, played at Purdue - the same school as Washington offensive coordinator David Blough - and went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He spent his rookie season with the New York Jets before being waived in May.
Parham brings the most NFL production of the group. He first entered the league in 2019 and spent part of that offseason with Washington, including a stop on the practice squad. Since then, he has put up 67 career receptions and 11 touchdowns, all with the Chargers from 2020 to 2023.
Ricks is another name worth noting. A former five-star recruit, he started his college career at LSU before finishing at Alabama.
He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 as an undrafted free agent and was waived last season. He also has a connection to Washington defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, having played for him at LSU in 2021 when Jones held the same job there.
In Other News...
Commanders Camp Is Already Exposing Two Early Roster Concerns
Three practices into training camp, the Commanders are already getting a clearer picture of where the roster feels sturdy and where the early warning lights are flashing. The defense has generally looked ahead of the offense so far, and that has helped sharpen the focus on a couple of areas that could matter once the pads come on Monday and the evaluation gets more serious.
Center is one of the first spots worth watching after Nick Allegrettis injury, because the line needs stability before anything else can really click. Wide receiver depth is another unresolved question, with enough uncertainty in that room to keep the front office and coaching staff paying close attention, even as linebacker Odafe Oweh has given them one encouraging camp storyline to track. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Suddenly Has A Tight End Concern Fans Need To Watch
Fans at Commanders camp got a little more clarity on the tight end room during Day 3, when Dan Quinn said John Bates will miss some time with a strained hamstring. Bates has been a steady part of the offense, so any absence there matters, especially in a camp where every rep is being watched closely and depth charts are still taking shape.
The good news for Washington was that Treylon Burks was back on the field after sitting out a day with a sore foot, while a few other names drew attention for their work in practice. Jeremy McNichols, Colson Yankoff, Odafe Oweh, KLavon Chaisson and Jake Moody all had moments that stood out, giving the day a little more balance even as the team keeps an eye on the health at tight end. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Buzz Is Building Around Unproven Names Fans Need To Know
Training camp always brings a fresh round of optimism, but the Mason/Brennan Preseason Hype! Awards are designed for a very specific kind of buzz: late-round picks and undrafted players who suddenly start making people pay attention. In Washington, that spotlight has fallen on several names from the 2026 draft class, with Kaytron Allen, Jaden Bradley, Malik Spencer, Athan Kaliakmanis and Matt Gulbin all getting nods after standing out in preseason work.
The awards, inspired by former Commanders player Colt Brennan, are built around players with little NFL experience who are trying to turn a strong camp into a real roster argument. For Washington, that makes the list worth watching closely, because the excitement around these under-the-radar names is about more than just practice highlights. It is about whether any of them can keep building enough momentum to survive the final roster decisions. [Read more 🡒]