The action is heating up at training camp. Dan Quinn put his squad through three padded practices this week, which raised the bar considerably and further readied the players for some grueling upcoming challenges.
Everyone is locked in. Everyone is pushing each other to be better. Everyone is on the same page, even without wide receiver Terry McLaurin to call upon right now. He's still awaiting a successful contract resolution from the Commanders.
That's an ongoing distraction, but it has not detracted his teammates from firmly focusing on the task at hand. Players are still vying for prominent roles, depth positions, and to scrape their way onto the 53-man roster. They will also know that joint practices with the New England Patriots are coming, and the AFC East club won't be a pushover with new head coach Mike Vrabel leading the charge.
The foundations are being laid for success, and everyone from established pros to young upstarts is coming to the fore. This is exactly what Quinn had in mind after making his expectations abundantly clear before camp began.
And here are five Commanders players who oozed superstar swagger during another physical practice on Day 7.
Commanders players who oozed superstar swagger on Day 7 of training camp
Jacob Martin - Commanders DE/OLB
Von Miller's arrival changed the landscape for others. The Washington Commanders needed an injection of positivity in the pass-rushing unit after concerns were growing among the fan base. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer alleviates this slightly, although asking him to log starting reps seems unrealistic.
One could argue that Jacob Martin is the player most impacted by Miller's presence on the squad. However, the free-agent signing is leaving no doubt regarding his potential influence.
Martin is impressing considerably at training camp. He's showcasing explosiveness and outstanding technical prowess, both in one-on-one drills and team scrimmages. He's getting the better of almost everyone in his path, which can only bode well for his chances of gaining rotational reps on the defensive line in 2025.
The veteran has bounced around the league, performing moderately en route to 21 career sacks in seven years. Martin is a dependable pro without ever setting the world alight. It's only camp, but it seems like Dan Quinn, Joe Whitt Jr., and other defensive coaches are bringing more from the former sixth-round selection out of Temple.
Finding the consistency needed is the next challenge, but Martin couldn't be doing much more to stake a claim right now.