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Washington Football Team: 3 players we’re watching closely in preseason opener

By Jacob Troutman

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - JULY 29: (L-R) Tony Brown #12, Dyami Brown #2 and Cam Sims #89 of the Washington Football Team take the field during training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Football Team training center park on July 29, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA - JULY 29: (L-R) Tony Brown #12, Dyami Brown #2 and Cam Sims #89 of the Washington Football Team take the field during training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Football Team training center park on July 29, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) /
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WFT safety Landon Collins (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
WFT safety Landon Collins (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Washington Football Team opens up its preseason slate this week. On Thursday, the Washington Football Team will take on the New England Patriots.

For the first time in seventh months, the Washington Football Team will play in a live, real NFL game. While these preseason games have no bearing on the final standings, they still hold a key significance for many.

For some players on the roster, their performance in these three preseason games will be the difference between getting cut and making the roster. And their play could catch the eye of the other 31 NFL teams, so they get signed to a 53 if they get released on cutdown day.

For others, it is best served as a dress rehearsal for when the games really start to count. These are games they use as a means to build synergy with the other players on the team and knock the rust off before the regular season commences.

Washington is a team with numerous new players expected to fill key roles. And most importantly, they have a new starting quarterback. There are plenty of players to watch.

So if the player you are personally watching for is not on this list, watch for them too. But without further ado, here are some of the players to watch in Washington’s first preseason game.

3 players to watch in Washington’s first preseason game

3. S Landon Collins

Landon Collins will play in his first game since tearing his Achilles against the Cowboys in 2020. So far in training camp, he looks lean and explosive. The player Collins was in 2020 versus the 2021 training camp version is unrecognizable.

Collins has not quite lived up to the lucrative contract he signed with Washington in 2019. In fact, in 2020 he was not even that good at his greatest strength, tackling. His missed tackle percentage went up by 6%. It seemed as if Collins was almost thinking, rather than playing.

Collins has spoken about that. He says his mentality entering the season is in a much better place than in 2020. He spoke about how he noticed he was doing too much thinking and that now he is more comfortable in Del Rio’s new system.

If the Washington Football Team can get a more explosive, instinctive Landon Collins, that could serve as an added boost to the defense. And with the emergence of Kam Curl, the additions of other veterans like Bobby McCain, Collins may be put into a more comfortable role.

Instead of being forced into playing quarters coverage, as a two-high safety, he can play closer to the line. He can then focus on using his elite instincts closer to the line. As Ron Rivera has noted, Collins is still a quality talent in the NFL.

Collins is a player to eye entering his first action in over nine months. Does Collins indeed look more explosive and confident in live-action? Is he taking better angles to the ball carrier, when attempting to tackle him? Safety play is hard to judge in training camp but Collins can prove he is a changed player in live-action again.

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