ASHBURN, Va. — Jahan Dotson knew this day was coming.
The Washington Commanders’ passing attack through five training camp practices was far more fits and starts than oohs and aahs. Practice No. 6 under gray skies came with a dousing of splash plays. Often, the headliner rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was the trigger man on pinpoint deep throws or targeted strikes.
“With him,” Dotson said, “anything is possible.”
Having caught several of Daniels’ passes in Tuesday’s session, the wide receiver dropped a fair amount of hyperbole in his post-practice news conference. Dotson referenced his receiver tag-team partner Terry McLaurin as “the best go-ball player in freaking NFL history,” for example. After waiting for a collective breakout showing, the excitement was understandable, as was the timing.
“I was just having this conversation with (cornerback Emmanuel) Forbes the other day. The early days of camp are tailored to the defense a little bit because, every day, we’re installing (part of the offensive plan),” Dotson explained. “We’re getting to stretch the field more and more every day, and you guys got to see that today.”
So did the roughly 1,500 season ticket holders who flocked to Washington’s third consecutive open practice and witnessed more on-field excitement from the offense than the previous two combined. Managing partner Josh Harris caught the no-pads action in his first appearance at camp.
Daniels, the No. 2 pick in April’s draft and the clubhouse leader in providing optimism for the perpetually worn-out fan base, struck early and often. There were highlight plays on other days but more one-off moments. They came in bunches on Tuesday.
There was the far-sideline completion to Olamide Zaccheaus, a spark-plug veteran receiver seemingly battling for rotation reps more than a roster spot. Daniels uncorked a perfect deep pass down the left side to the receiver he’ll likely connect with the most in season, McLaurin. He also fed the 6-foot-5 Zach Ertz for a short-yardage touchdown.
everybody got in on the celly 🙌@Seatgeek | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/lmPK5v90D6
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 30, 2024
Dotson’s productive day — several fingers are required to count his receptions — started with a sure-handed catch as Daniels ripped a pass into a tight window while rolling right. They connected soon after, with Dotson dropping to his knees to snag an intended low pass in traffic.
Like the overall offense, the third-year receiver was arguably in a funk early in camp or lacked the desired output. That’s especially true coming off an admittedly down 2023 season after an impressive rookie campaign. Gaining comfort in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme remains a work in progress, as does the homework required for learning all the wideout roles. After an active practice, Washington’s No. 2 receiver said he feels his confidence rising.
“I feel like I’m just getting more comfortable, and that’s enabling me to play faster and faster,” Dotson shared. “I feel like I’m playing a lot faster than I have been in the past couple of years, and that’s been a big emphasis for me.”
As the acclimation process advances, Dotson said he’ll be able to marry his instincts into the equation, and “that’s what makes me a route runner.”
Roster hopefuls participated in the pass-happy practice. Brycen Tremayne’s catches included a diving reception of a Marcus Mariota pass while racing downfield. A practice squad player last season, Tremayne’s size (6-foot-4), hands and special teams capabilities give him a puncher’s chance at landing a roster spot.
Ironically, the defense appeared more supercharged initially, forcing two fumbles in quick succession.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed up the middle and into the clear, only for second-round cornerback Mike Sainristil to chase him down and force the ball free. Ertz fumbled in the same series with linebacker Frankie Luvu. Forbes, like Sainristil, later pursued a ball carrier unnecessarily in the context of a practice rep, but he was on point for what defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. began preaching back at his introductory news conference.
“You’ll hear me talk about this all the time: The ball is life,” Whitt said. “It is like air and we gotta have it, we gotta get it.”
He elaborated that players in drills “were going to attack the ball every kinda way we can in practice, so it translates into the game.”
The secondary was short-handed as cornerback Benjamin St-Juste left the field after individual drills and did not participate in full-team work.
GO DEEPER
Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. wants to ‘feed the studs’
Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton joined teammates on the practice field for the first time since being activated after May’s left foot surgery for a Jones fracture. The 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year had a similar surgery on his right foot in January.
“I was checking out the right foot to see if it was good and then got an X-ray on the left one,” Newton said. “I found out … right before I got up here, but I never really felt anything.”
Learning from the best@Johnny5Newton | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/m3DZ4VW2vu
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 30, 2024
Newton gives Whitt another interior weapon behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Simply returning to practice was a win on Tuesday. “It felt good to get back out there with the guys,” Newton said.
The offensive line mixing and matching continued. Tuesday’s initial group (from left to right): Brandon Coleman. Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi and Andrew Wylie. Coach Dan Quinn acknowledged that Biadasz at center and Cosmi at right guard are staples, and Allegretti “is into that space some now.”
(Photo: Nick Wass / Associated Press)
