3 major storylines we’ll be watching closely at Commanders OTAs

1. Carson Wentz

The spotlight will be on Wentz for the entirety of the next eight months and organized team activities are no different. No rash assessments will be made this early into his Washington career, obviously, but the general consensus is the the 29-year-old looked good, showing off his cannon for a right arm and deep ball prowess.

Of course, it wasn’t a perfect opening day for Wentz, as he was intercepted by cornerback Corn Elder of all people during a 9-on-9 drill. No, this isn’t a huge deal and yes, mistakes are commonplace this early into the offseason. Get back to us during training camp and joint practices if Wentz is still throwing picks.

During an offseason that produced unprecedented QB movement, Wentz joining his third team in as many seasons will be near the top of the list in terms of most-covered storylines around the league. ESPN analyst Troy Aikman (like most people) views this as Wentz’s last chance to prove he’s a franchise quarterback.

The clock, for lack of a better term, started ticking on Monday.

Other storylines to watch 

Terry McLaurin will not report to OTAs as he seeks a new contract. As one of the Commanders’ leaders, McLaurin has rarely missed a day of work in his career. From Day 1 of offseason workouts to virtual team meetings and the last practice of the season, McLaurin is always leading by example by simply showing up.

If nothing else, McLaurin’s absence will give Dotson, Curtis Samuel and Dyami Brown extended looks with Wentz and the first-team offense.

We’re also keeping tabs on Washington’s injured players (Chase Young, Logan Thomas, Chase Roullier, etc.) and how big of a role they play, if at all. As locker room leaders, their presence could have a positive impact on their teammates.