Biggest winners from Day 2 of Commanders training camp

If you were lucky enough to attend Day 2 of Washington Commanders training camp — or were simply following along on Twitter — odds are you’re aware that the defense vastly outperformed the offense at Thursday’s practice.

It’s no secret Washington’s defense was humbled last season. Entering a huge 2022 campaign, coordinator Jack Del Rio is preaching humility and his players have clearly bought in based on their performance in the early goings.

In defense of the offense (that just sounds odds), it’s unrealistic to expect a quarterback who’s unfamiliar with the playbook and his pass-catchers to come out firing on all cylinders at the onset of training camp.

Having said that, the defense has the offense’s number. Defensive linemen were living in the backfield and the secondary applied sticky coverage, so let’s highlight some of the standouts, shall we? Who knows, there might even be an offensive player or two sprinkled in along the way.

Biggest winners from Day 2 of Commanders training camp

Montez Sweat 

With Chase Young on the PUP list, Sweat needed to step up as a leader and tone-setter of Washington’s front seven and he’s done exactly that thus far. He could’ve camped out in the backfield Thursday night if the team allowed it and delivered the most savage moment of camp when he breezed past tight end Armani Rogers on a play and yelled “Do not put a tight end on me!”

That energy spread like wildfire amongst the defense.

Kendall Fuller

On a day where the entire secondary shined, Fuller was fittingly the biggest standout. The veteran corner might be the best-kept secret on Washington’s roster, as he broke up several passes Thursday, including snuffing out a designed screen for Curtis Samuel. On another play, Fuller dislodged the ball on a completed pass to Dyami Brown that ultimately landed in the welcoming arms of Cole Holcomb.

It’s early, but it feels like Fuller is poised for a big year.

Young Defenders

Figured I’d lump all these players together. First up is Jamin Davis, who got his hands on a pass and nearly completed the interception before he stepped out of bounds. Elsewhere, edge rushers Shaka Toney and William Bradley-King took advantage of their extra reps with Young sidelined. The former made light work of rookie Chris Paul for a would-be sack while the latter logged an INT at the end of practice.

Credit to rookie DBs Christian Holmes and Percy Butler, who each recorded a pass breakup on the day. That should serve as a confidence-builder.

Jahan Dotson

It wasn’t a great day for the offense as a unit. Carson Wentz’s completion percentage would’ve been ugly if stats were kept. However, the new QB connected with Dotson on a pretty-looking deep ball during team drills. Despite being draped by Benjamin St-Juste, the rookie receiver showed superb concentration to haul in the pass over his shoulder. It was the best play of the day from the offense and it shouldn’t come as a surprise Dotson was at the center of it after his eye-opening spring.