Wednesday’s Commanders training camp practice had a different edge to it.
For the first time this summer, Washington’s session turned chippy, with multiple confrontations breaking out in a short span. The heat and the grind of stacking August days seemed to catch up to the group, and the tension showed up fast.
The first sign came when receiver Luke McCaffrey and cornerback Mike Sainristil had to be separated. Not long after that, rookie running back Kaytron Allen got into it in the end zone after safety Nick Cross hit him late. Allen responded by throwing the ball at Cross, and receiver Van Jefferson stepped in and got in Cross’ face.
The back-and-forth didn’t stop there. A red-zone shoving match between Jacoby Jones and Quan Martin made it clear the earlier flare-up wasn’t a one-off, and the intensity carried on through practice.
It was the second padded practice, and after several days of work in the heat, the group finally hit a point where the competitive fire started spilling over. That kind of edge is normal in camp, especially with 91 fully grown men battling for jobs and roles, but it still has to stay within the lines.
Once the tempers start boiling, the line matters. Players can’t let it get to the point where penalties would be coming in a game, or where someone gets hurt. Whether Wednesday’s scuffles stay contained to one practice or linger into the rest of the week will be worth watching.
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For Washington, the conversation is a little different because the Commanders have already altered their own wideout picture by bringing in Stefon Diggs on a one-year deal. That makes the fit for a player like Boutte less straightforward, even if the idea of adding more receiver talent has obvious appeal. In a crowded market, the Patriots have to weigh whether moving him helps their long-term roster build or simply creates another hole in a room that could still use insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Just Raised The Stakes For Washingtons Cornerback Battle
The cornerback competition in Washington has been one of the more closely watched parts of training camp, and Trey Amos has added another layer to it by simply being absent from the field so far. The rookie is working his way back from the fibula fracture he suffered last season, and the Commanders have been careful not to rush him through the final steps before football activities begin again.
Head coach Dan Quinn is expected to get a better read on Amoss status soon, and that evaluation will go a long way toward clarifying his timeline. Amos has sounded confident about returning, but Washington is treating the situation with caution, making sure he is fully ready before giving him the green light. [Read more 🡒]