Jonathan Allen clearly isn’t a fan of NFL’s mandated safety helmets

The Washington Commanders took the field on Wednesday for the first practice of training camp. If you noticed that players’ headgear looked a little bigger compared to the average football helmet, that’s because the NFL mandated the use of Guardian Cap helmet covers for certain positions during camp.

Due to the violent nature of these positions, offensive and defensive lineman, linebackers and tight ends will be required to wear the caps for every practice spanning the start of the camp contact period and second preseason game.

With concussions becoming a common theme of camp, the goal is to eliminate all avoidable head contact and statistics prove they work. According to ESPN, the cap’s manufacturer says they reduce force from head contact by up to 20%.

Per the NFL, players will be encouraged (but not required) to wear the padded helmet following the second preseason game, which is around the time teams shift to lighter practices in anticipation of the regular season.

If we had to guess, we’d say Jonathan Allen is counting down the days until Washington’s second preseason game. Asked about the caps after Wednesday’s practice, Allen dismissive response told us all we needed to know.

Commanders star Jonathan Allen seemingly isn’t a fan of the NFL’s mandated guardian cap helmets.

We’re sure Allen understands the importance of the helmets, but his response suggests they’re wildly uncomfortable. And if they’re not unbearable, there’s definitely a marked difference in terms of how much different it feels relative to the standard NFL helmet. That can’t be ideal for a defensive lineman who’s job requires so much lateral and medial movements. It’s not crazy to think these helmets can throw off a player’s timing or even reduce their agility.

As a team captain, Allen can usually speak for the entire Washington defense, but not in this instance. Cole Holcomb and Jamin Davis were both asked about the helmets and seemed unruffled by their uncomfortable nature.

"“Once you going, you don’t really think about it,” Holcomb told reporters. “Initially, I was like, ‘OK, it’s a little heavier, a little hotter in there,’ but once you get going, you’re not thinking about anything. Brain’s (the) most important thing, so anything we can do (to prevent head contact).”"

"“It’s a helmet at the end of the day so I’m not really paying much attention to it,” Davis added. “You feel an extra piece of cushion up there, but it’s nothing that you can’t play ball with at the end of the day . . . “"

Whereas Holcomb showed an appreciation for the NFL’s efforts to improve player safety, second-year tight end Sammis Reyes leaned more towards Allen and Davis’ viewpoint, saying “It takes some of the fun of football away.”

There are no doubt conflicting opinions on the helmets throughout the league. Allen and the other players who are indifferent about them will just have to battle through these next couple of weeks before the mandate is lifted.