Rasul Douglas has barely unpacked in Washington, and he’s already giving the Commanders exactly what they brought him in for: a play on the ball.
The veteran cornerback needed only his second day in Ashburn to make a splash, jumping a Marcus Mariota throw for a pick-six during training camp. For a team trying to stabilize a thin cornerback room, it was the kind of early statement that turns heads fast.
Douglas has been in the league for 10 years and has worn the uniform of nine different franchises, so he understands how quickly a summer can shape a player’s standing. Washington signed him for depth, especially with Trey Amos opening camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and he’s already making that decision look smart.
The interception came on a miscue between Mariota and rookie wide receiver Antonio Williams, and Douglas did what he’s done throughout his career: found the football. He has 21 career interceptions, with three returned for touchdowns, and that knack for big plays is exactly why he stands out in this secondary.
How much he ends up playing in Daronte Jones’ defense is still to be determined, but with Amos sidelined, Douglas should be a major part of the picture. The Commanders also have hope for Mike Sainristil in his third season, while Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon were added to deepen the group. Even with that competition, there’s a strong argument that Douglas may be Washington’s best healthy corner right now.
That matters because the Commanders need turnovers badly. Last season, they finished 31st in the league in takeaways with just 10, including eight interceptions, and four of those came from Sainristil. Opponents picked them apart far too often, a big reason a team that started with playoff expectations stumbled to a 5-12 finish.
Jones has made it clear that one of his main goals is to get Washington playing with more passion and energy. The revamped front seven is supposed to help with that up front, but in the secondary the job is simpler: get hands on the ball.
Douglas looks like he understood the assignment on day two.
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Commanders Still Have One Big Question Around Jayden Daniels
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Elsewhere in the receiver room, the early returns have not inspired much confidence, and that has only sharpened the conversation about whether Washington needs to add another established pass catcher before the season gets rolling. For a team trying to make life easier on Daniels right away, the next move at wideout may end up being one of the most important storylines of camp. [Read more 🡒]