The Washington Commanders have spent the offseason reshaping their defense, but one of the loudest developments in training camp has come from a fifth-round pick who keeps flashing in all the right ways.
While the team has added edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson and used its first-round selection on linebacker Sonny Styles, Joshua Josephs has pushed his way into the conversation as a real summer surprise. The Commanders are hoping they found a steal in the fifth round, and Josephs has done plenty to back that up.
His own approach is simple: keep proving himself.
“It's just [about] always having that mindset no matter what,” Josephs told Bryan Colbert Jr. on the most recent episode of “Raising Hail with the Rookies.” “No matter what feat you accomplish, you've always got something to prove. You've always gotta be hungry.”
That mentality fits the way Washington wants to use him. Josephs said the staff sees him as more than just an edge player, pointing to his ability to do damage as both a rusher and a coverage piece.
“They know I'm an athlete,” Josephs said. “I have the ability to cover.
I was doing it in college. (And) I was doing it in high school.
I've been doing this thing my whole life. I've been able to cover in space.
They also know about my pass rushing ability [and] my pass rushing bag, and I feel like I've got a good bag. They feel like I've got a good bag.
I feel like I gotta show I'm a dominant pass rusher and I'm able to cover in space.”
That versatility has shown up on the practice field. Zach Selby posted on X that “Joshua Josephs is having an impressive day so far. He had a batted pass earlier in team drills and showed off his speed against Wylie in 1-on-1s”
Washington also liked the physical profile. Mitchell Tischler noted on X that “84 wingspan is enormous. Josephs is 3-4 edge and played split standup/hand in the dirt at Tennessee”
For Josephs, the next step is absorbing Daronte Jones’ system and keeping pace with everything the defense is asking of him.
“Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s a little challenging,” said Josephs of learning Washington’s defense. “I just gotta stay in my playbook.
Really, it’s a blessing - all the packages that I’m in, and everything that Coach DJ (Daronte Jones) is doing. I believe he knows what he’s doing.
I believe our defense is going to be really lethal this season.”
That’s the bigger picture for Washington. The Commanders are trying to build a pass rush that can create steady pressure, not just splash plays. Josephs’ development matters because the edge rotation has real depth potential with Oweh, Chaisson, Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste all in the mix as the preseason unfolds.
There’s also a bigger defensive chain reaction at play. As safety Nick Cross put it, the unit has to stay disciplined if it wants to keep offenses from dictating terms.
“You got to have your eyes right,” safety Nick Cross said. “Reading your keys, communication's on point.
You've got a lot of talented playmakers on offense. At the end of the day, it's crucial that we go out there and we're on our details, on our keys, make sure your eyes are in the right spot.
“They move this person, move that person, run someone across the field, and it's to create confusion. You've got to make sure you're on your keys, on your details, study your notes and go out there and play.”
If the Commanders can pair better run defense with their edge pressure, the pass rush chances should come more often and in cleaner situations. That’s where Josephs can make his mark. And if his camp momentum carries into the season, Washington may have found more than just a depth piece.
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