The Washington Commanders got their first team practice of training camp underway today in Ashburn, VA, and Jayden Daniels showed up talking like a quarterback who knows exactly what he’s chasing. Entering his third season, Daniels said he’s been hunting for any edge he can find, and that work has included time with the team during scheduled offseason activities as well as workouts in Southern California with some of his skill players.
A big part of that next step is the offense itself. This will be Daniels’ first season working with former assistant QB David Blough as offensive coordinator, and the two are set to spend plenty of time on getting him under center more. Daniels said he’s improved a lot in that area since the offense was first installed.
Daniels also spoke about leadership and the sense that the locker room now feels like it belongs to him. The source material frames that as Daniels feeling like “it’s his team now,” and that tone carried through the rest of his comments as he discussed the many moving parts around him.
He touched on red zone work, his relationship with Brandon Aiyuk, and the competition at wide receiver and beyond. Bill Corskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks and Jaylin Lane were all part of the conversation, along with the idea of making plays when his name is called.
Daniels also addressed playing football again, Sam Cosmi, bad intentions, Sam Hartman, and what it means to play football on your birthday. On the defensive side of the discussion, he mentioned Rasul Douglas, turnovers, defensive linemen, Leo Chenal, defense, Sonny Styles, and Javon Kinlaw.
He closed with the kind of simple message that fits a camp opening: come back ready to go, with Jeremy Reaves among the names in the mix as the Commanders begin sorting through the details.
In Other News...
Commanders May Have A Camp Receiver Worth Watching Closely
One of the more intriguing camp additions for Washington is a rookie receiver who arrives with a familiar face at quarterback and a profile built around straight-line speed. Chris Hilton, Jr. signed with the Commanders as a free agent after a college career at LSU that never quite got on track statistically, but he still brings the kind of burst teams tend to notice once the pads come on.
Hiltons path has also been interrupted by a string of injuries in college, which helps explain why he is still something of a projection rather than a finished product. Even so, the connection to Jayden Daniels and the chance to flash in preseason give him a real opening to stick around, especially if he can turn those athletic traits into consistent reps when Washington starts sorting out the bottom of the receiver depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Why Commanders Already Feel Different About No. 7 Pick Sonny Styles
Sonny Styles arrived in camp with the kind of profile that tends to change the conversation around a defense before a snap is played. The Commanders used the No. 7 pick on the rookie linebacker, and the early buzz has centered on the same things that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place: athleticism, versatility and a skill set that coaches believe can translate quickly. Dan Quinn and the staff have already seen enough in the early stages to feel encouraged by how Styles is processing the game and carrying himself on the field.
What Washington has not fully seen yet is the part that could make the pick feel even bigger down the line. Styles has not had the chance to show his blitz ability or the way his speed and length can affect throws in space, and those are the kinds of traits that could separate a promising rookie from a defensive difference-maker. For now, the Commanders are watching the development closely, knowing the ceiling is there if the progress keeps coming. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Camp Day 2 Brought Early Signs Fans Have Been Waiting For
Training camp in Ashburn is still in its opening stretch, but the early buzz is already starting to feel familiar for a fan base that has been waiting for something concrete to latch onto. With five fan-accessible practices selling out quickly and more sessions reserved for season ticket members, the Commanders have given supporters a first look at a roster and coaching staff that look very different from a year ago, including new coordinators David Blough on offense and Daronte Jones on defense.
Day 2 brought the kind of small but meaningful flashes that can shape the first week of camp, from standout moments in drills and team periods to a few plays that turned heads at the right time. Malik Spencer made the first interception of training camp, and the defense kept making its presence felt as practice wound down, while Jayden Daniels also found Luke McCaffrey for a touchdown in one of the sharper offensive sequences of the day. [Read more 🡒]