The Washington Commanders got one more look in front of fans Wednesday in Ashburn, and Day 13 of training camp delivered a little bit of everything: a promising offensive rhythm, a few encouraging returns, and some injury concerns that could linger.
The biggest bright spot was the continued connection between Jayden Daniels and Chig Okonkwo. Daniels stayed crisp throughout practice and again showed how quickly he and Okonkwo are syncing up, with the two hooking up for a touchdown near the end of 11-on-11 work. With Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin drawing attention on the outside, Okonkwo working the middle could give this offense another layer once September arrives.
The run game also had one of its better days. With Rachaad White absent, Kaytron Allen handled plenty of the work and turned in some solid carries.
Washington also got Nick Allegretti and John Bates back in the mix, and both were involved in the blocking effort that had been missing. One strong padded practice doesn’t erase the problems that showed up against Miami, but it was at least a step in the right direction.
On the defensive side, Javon Kinlaw flashed the disruptive presence Washington wants from him, stopping Allen for a loss during team drills. If Johnny Newton is out for an extended stretch, Kinlaw could be in line for even more work.
D.J. Davidson also made a play that can change a roster battle in a hurry, stripping Robert Henry Jr. and returning it for what would have been a touchdown.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. kept his strong camp going as well, picking off rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis.
That depth showed up again on Wednesday. Washington’s defense has more bodies capable of making plays than it did a year ago, and that was on display in practice.
The downside came in the injury report. Oweh is dealing with a strained calf and was held out.
Chaisson is working through the knee injury he picked up during the Miami joint practice. Magee has a shoulder injury that will sideline him for the rest of the week.
Newton’s pectoral issue is the most serious of the group; he’ll be examined by a specialist in New York, and Quinn said it could keep him out for a while. White was also missing with an undisclosed injury.
Another issue that kept resurfacing was pre-snap penalties. Washington has been fighting false starts and other pre-snap mistakes all summer, and it’s now been too long to dismiss as a one-off mess. The offense can survive those mistakes on a practice field, but Quinn will want to see cleaner execution in preseason game action before it becomes a real problem.
Even with the flags and the injury news, Wednesday still felt like a useful day for Washington. Daniels and Okonkwo kept building their chemistry, Allegretti and Bates worked back into the offense, and the team avoided any new injuries during the session.
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Instead, White has now missed back-to-back practice sessions with an undisclosed injury, and the timing has only fueled chatter around a recent team ice bucket challenge video. There has been no official confirmation tying the absence to anything specific, but for a player trying to settle in and make an early impression, any unexplained missed time is the kind of thing that can quickly turn a routine camp update into a situation worth watching. [Read more 🡒]