Saturday’s third training camp practice for the Washington Commanders brought a little bit of everything: Treylon Burks back on the field, the kicking battle finally shifting, and a defense that kept making life miserable for the offense.
Burks was the biggest positive of the day after missing Thursday with a sore foot. For a player trying to carve out a second NFL chance after a run of injury trouble, simply being out there mattered.
He looked comfortable, worked routes cleanly, and connected with Jayden Daniels during third-down work. In a receiver room that already has a crowded battle going on behind Terry McLaurin, staying on the field is part of the job for Burks and Jaylin Lane, who also caught a few balls from Daniels.
The offense did have a couple of bright spots elsewhere. Jeremy McNichols put together two strong runs to the outside, once again showing why he’s hard to push out of the running back room. His value keeps showing up in the same places: running, pass protection, and third-down work.
The kicking competition also moved a step Saturday. Jake Moody went a perfect 8-for-8, while Drew Stevens finished 7-for-8. Moody has now gone two straight practices without a miss after hitting all six of his kicks Thursday.
On the defensive side, Qwuantrezz Knight made one of the day’s biggest plays by picking off rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. For a player fighting from the bottom of the roster, splash plays like that can go a long way toward helping his special teams or practice squad case. Will Harris, Rasul Douglas, and Ahkello Witherspoon also stayed around the ball and broke up passes during the session.
The Commanders’ defense kept the pressure on throughout the day, especially at the catch point. Washington’s defensive backs repeatedly challenged receivers and kept the offense from settling into any kind of rhythm. That’s not unusual this early in camp, even with both sides learning new systems, but the offense’s struggles are still worth watching.
Kaliakmanis’ interception was a rough follow-up to Malik Spencer’s pick of him Thursday. Back-to-back practices with turnovers are not the kind of start a seventh-round quarterback wants while trying to win developmental reps from Sam Hartman on the practice squad. Rookie receiver Antonio Williams also had a drop, a small but real missed chance in a crowded competition.
Before practice, Dan Quinn said Nick Allegretti is expected to miss about a week with a calf injury and John Bates will be out multiple weeks because of a hamstring strain.
After practice, several offensive linemen took snaps to quarterbacks Sam Hartman and Marcus Mariota, including Trent Scott, Brandon Coleman, and Tyler Cooper. Coleman said he has snapped some at TCU, but not much beyond that: “gotta be ready if I get thrown in the fire”
Through three unpadded practices, the defense has clearly had the upper hand. Burks’ return and Moody’s clean kicking day stood out, but Monday’s first padded practice should bring the next real measuring stick, especially for the offensive line, the backs, and anyone working near the line of scrimmage.
In Other News...
Wes Welker Might Be Shaping A Commanders Breakout Fans Will Notice
Wes Welkers latest stop has put him in a familiar kind of teaching role, and the Commanders are already seeing why it matters. Working with Washingtons tight ends, Welker has brought the perspective of a former elite receiver into a room that can benefit from sharper technique, cleaner routes and a more nuanced understanding of how to create separation. Chig Okonkwo, in particular, has emerged as a player drawing attention from the work, praising Welkers expertise and the new details he is absorbing.
For a Commanders offense looking ahead to the 2026 season, that kind of coaching can carry real weight even before the pads come on. Tight ends often become difference-makers in subtle ways, and Welkers background gives Washington a teacher who understands how to stress defenses from multiple angles. If Okonkwo keeps building on what he is learning now, he could become one of the more noticeable breakouts on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Luke McCaffrey Is Giving Commanders Fans A Reason To Watch Closely
Training camp has given the Commanders at least one young player worth tracking closely in Luke McCaffrey. The 2024 third-round pick arrived in Washington as a converted quarterback, and his early work at wide receiver has started to match the kind of developmental upside the team hoped for when it took him. Former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen pointed to McCaffreys growth as a receiver, returner and blocker, all areas that can help a young player carve out a real job once the pads come on for good.
For a Commanders roster with several young wideouts jockeying for playing time, McCaffrey does not need to be the finished product to matter. He just needs to keep stacking the kind of camp reps that suggest he is more than a curiosity from last summer. If he can keep building on what has shown up early, Washington may have a player who can force his way into a significant role this season rather than merely flashing in passing camp reports. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Still Have One Big Question Around Jayden Daniels
Training camp has opened with Washingtons defense getting the better of the early exchanges, while Jayden Daniels worked through a slow first day before looking sharper on day two. The bigger concern around the rookie quarterback has not been Daniels himself so much as the pieces around him, with Terry McLaurin once again standing out as the one proven target the offense can count on.
Elsewhere in the receiver room, the early returns have not inspired much confidence, and that has only sharpened the conversation about whether Washington needs to add another established pass catcher before the season gets rolling. For a team trying to make life easier on Daniels right away, the next move at wideout may end up being one of the most important storylines of camp. [Read more 🡒]