Dan Quinn got a little more encouraging on the injury front Friday as the Washington Commanders wrapped up the week in Ashburn with their final practice and their first padded session of the regular season.
Bill Croskey-Merritt and K’Lavon Chaisson, both dealing with knee injuries, were out there and took part in practice. That’s a welcome sign for Washington as the team moves deeper into the early part of the season.
Odafe Oweh, meanwhile, is still working his way back from a calf issue. Quinn said he’ll return to practice next week, but the coach stopped short of saying Oweh will be ready for Week 1. Quinn said he wants to see him back on the field first before making that call.
The other theme Quinn kept circling back to was leadership, and he liked what he’s seen from this group so far. He pointed to veterans such as Stefon Diggs, who has brought “a fire and competitiveness” to the team, and he also singled out first-round rookie Sonny Styles for the way he’s carried himself.
That matters even more at linebacker, where Quinn said leadership is essential. Styles has been handling that responsibility throughout the offseason, training camp and preseason, and Quinn noted that he’ll be helping call plays on the field alongside Frankie Luvu.
The practice itself also marked Washington’s first padded work of the regular season, with K’Lavon Chaisson back on the field as part of the session. Matt Gulbin was snapping for Jayden Daniels during quarterback work, and the team also went through wide receiver and running back drills.
Elsewhere, Drew Stevens was part of the day’s notes as Quinn continued to take stock of the roster heading toward the start of the season.
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Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
The Commanders roster cleanup after cutdown day included a little bit of housekeeping and a little bit of insurance, with Washington bringing back 12 players it had previously waived or released while also adding five outside players to the 53-man roster and practice squad mix. Among the new faces was veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom, but the more intriguing addition for Washingtons depth chart may be offensive tackle Esa Pole, a name with a recent NFL trail and a clear path to matter if the line gets tested.
Pole arrived with a bit of experience already in his pocket, having spent time with the Chiefs and Jets before making his NFL debut last season. He got four starts at left tackle before being waived, and Washingtons decision to bring him in now points to how much the team values having another viable option at a spot where depth can disappear quickly. The Commanders are still sorting out the final shape of that room, and Pole gives them a player whose role could grow faster than most practice squad additions. [Read more 🡒]
Former Commanders Contributor Is Latest Reminder Of Washingtons Cornerback Turnover
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Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
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Washington, though, appears to have moved on long ago. The team never showed much interest in making Aiyuk a target, with the general manager making it clear Stefon Diggs had been the preferred veteran option from the start. Aiyuk has not applied for reinstatement, and with his NFL future still uncertain, the social media hints are starting to feel more like background noise than a path back to D.C. [Read more 🡒]