Commanders fans will love this Curtis Samuel highlight clip from OTAs

The Washington Commanders need their receivers to step up next season. Actually, let’s try that again. The Commanders need their receivers not named Terry McLaurin to step up next season. That sounds more accurate.

McLaurin is currently all the rage right now in Washington as he didn’t report to organized team activities while he negotiates a new contract. The understanding is the star receiver participated in the first phase of offseason workouts, but hasn’t been with the team since the draft and is now “holding out,” as it were.

It’s not an ideal situation by any means, but we’re not the least bit concerned. The former third-round pick hasn’t put a foot wrong since he was drafted and there’s no reason to believe he won’t show up and grind when the time comes.

In the meantime, though, McLaurin’s absence gives the club’s other wideouts, rookie Jahan Dotson and second-year pros Dyami Brown and Dax Milne chief among them, an opportunity to step up and develop chemistry with Carson Wentz.

For Curtis Samuel, however, OTAs are all about getting up to speed following his injury-bedeviled debut season with the Commanders. This clip of Samuel running routes and making sharp cuts is a great sign for what’s to come.

Commanders fans will love seeing Curtis Samuel running routes and making sharp cuts at OTAs.

Samuel’s 2021 season went worse than anyone could have imagined. Fresh off signing a three-year, $34.5 million contract, including $23 million guaranteed, with Washington, a nagging groin injury suffered during offseason workouts last spring and a hamstring strain limited him to five games and 84 total snaps.

Entering a potential make-or-break year in Washington (the team can save $5.8 million by cutting him next offseason), Samuel has been grinding his tail off and had no restrictions for Tuesday’s practice. Afterwards, the speedy WR addressed the media and shared how he’s feeling after a taxing offseason.

"“It’s exciting to be back. After all the stuff I done been through last year, to be able to come out here, OTAs, and run around, feel good, that was refreshing.”"

For anyone wondering, yes, Samuel has fully recovered from both injuries. Here’s what the 25-year-old said when asked if he’s back to 100% and if his speed is back to where it was before his pestering soft-tissue injuries

"I’m great. Y’all see my flying around out there.That was the main issue. I always had it in my mind [that] something was going to happen me if I was running fast. So now, refreshed mind, just excited to be out there running fast, feeling good. After seeing myself do it over and over, training before OTAs, it’s like, I know I can do it."

Samuel will obviously have to prove himself on the field. If you think for a second that we’re going to take any and all small victories (him running routes, cutting, catching passes, etc.) leading up to then, you bet we are! After all, we hardly saw any of it last year and the setbacks clearly took a toll on him mentally. It’s awesome to hear he’s cleared that hurdle and trusts his body to run at full speed again.

As one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the NFL, Samuel is one of Washington’s biggest X-factors for next season. But for now fans should enjoy this clip and the fact that he looks fully recovered — both physically and mentally — from his nightmare 2021.