Business is picking up for the Washington Commanders. We're in the third week of training camp. Joint practice with the New England Patriots is in the rearview mirror. And now, players will get the chance to boost their stocks in the first preseason game.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Washington's starting core won't feature versus the Patriots. They got some good work in earlier in the week, and the Commanders are proceeding with caution to avoid unnecessary complications. This represents an outstanding platform for those on the fringes to get noticed.
Considering how quarterback Jayden Daniels and other stars could play on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals next week, this only raises the stakes. Some might not get a better opportunity to force their way into the team's plans. It's a high-pressure situation that will see some thrive while others fall by the wayside.
Quinn, his accomplished staff, and general manager Adam Peters will be watching developments closely. Every move will be analyzed. Every mistake will be scrutinized. And the margins for error are razor-thin.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players on the hot seat entering their preseason opener at Gillette Stadium.
Commanders players on the hot seat entering preseason opener at the Patriots
Chris Paul - Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders are dealing with some issues on the interior of the offensive line. Not exactly unusual, but it's something to monitor nonetheless.
Sam Cosmi is working his way back from a torn ACL. Brandon Coleman also didn't make the trip to New England after limping off earlier in the week at training camp. Nate Herbig opted to retire, which has the scope to expose the team's glaring lack of legitimate depth.
Adam Peters seems content with what he has right now. However, it's a fluid situation that will be dependent on performance levels over the preseason.
Just when all hope seemed lost, an opportunity awaits Chris Paul. The former seventh-round selection made the team last season but was a healthy scratch more often than not. He looked firmly on the fringes after the team's offseason investments, but that might not be the case anymore.
Paul could force his way into a key depth role if he shines during Washington's warmup slate. The urgency of his job being on the line, coupled with this being the Tulsa product's last year of his rookie deal, should ensure he'll be giving it absolutely everything to get a reprieve.
He can't do anything more than that. But it is the minimum requirement.
Robert McDaniel - Commanders DB
Undrafted free agents and veterans down on their luck will likely get the lion's share of reps against the New England Patriots. And for some, this could be the first (and last) time they ever suit up for the Washington Commanders.
Robert McDaniel is someone to watch closely. The undrafted free agent out of Jackson State has the size and physical scope Dan Quinn typically looks for in his defensive backs. Washington's staff got a good look at the rookie over offseason workouts, and the early reports were encouraging enough.
That got his foot in the door. There's been less said about McDaniel at training camp, so it'll be interesting to see how the player copes in a typical NFL game-day setting with the spotlight glaring.
McDaniel can play almost anywhere in the secondary. Relying on his eye-catching explosiveness and anticipation is only going to serve him well. But playing mistake-free is the main thing.
Carl Davis Jr. - Commanders DL
The Commanders brought Carl Davis Jr. back into the mix later than most who contributed last season. Adam Peters wants strength in numbers across the defensive trenches. Nothing is guaranteed, so it'll be interesting to see how the dynamic shakes out in the coming weeks.
Davis' roster spot isn't locked by any stretch of the imagination. He seems pretty low down the depth chart, which could mean he's in line for significant reps to kick off the preseason.
What comes after that is down to Davis. The former third-round pick out of Iowa featured three times during the regular season. He also secured five tackles in the NFC Championship game, although the result didn't exactly go in the Commanders' favor.
Unlike some young upstarts in Washington, Davis brings valuable experience to the table. He's a solid pro entering his 10th year. There were some frailties against the run, but his explosiveness in pass-rushing situations left a mark.
Andre Jones Jr. - Commanders DE/OLB
There's a growing sense that the Commanders' defensive front might not be the lost cause some feared earlier this offseason. They held their own and more versus the New England Patriots in joint practice, which is another positive for a group that is aiming to silence some increasing doubters in 2025.
None of Washington's starting unit will play at Gillette Stadium. That means the stage is set for those on the roster bubble to flourish, which puts the onus squarely on players like Andre Jones Jr. to produce.
Jones spent most of last season on the practice squad. That dented the former seventh-round pick's ambitions, but the Commanders saw enough in the player to keep him around on a reserve/futures contract this offseason. Capitalizing on the chance is crucial.
The Commanders would be wise to give Jones all he can handle during the preseason. He remains a long shot to make the team, but who knows what could happen if he turns on the style.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
The running back dynamic is shifting. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler remain atop the depth chart, but the emergence of seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has put everyone else vying for roster spots firmly on notice.
One of those is Chris Rodriguez Jr. The former sixth-rounder stuck around with the Washington Commanders this offseason after flashing promise when carries came his way on a limited basis last season. That was a big vote of confidence, but the cards are stacked against the Kentucky product in pursuit of making the squad.
Rodriguez has been fighting to stay relevant almost from the moment he got into the league. He's overcome adversity before, and he'll be aiming to do the same again. However, it's hard to look at his current predicament with much confidence.
Expect to see purposeful rushing from Rodriguez when his number is called. But the importance of outshining Croskey-Merritt cannot be overstated.
Ja'Corey Brooks - Commanders WR
Competition for places in the wide receiver room is incredibly fierce. There aren't many spots to go around, and everyone has been given a bigger chance to stake a claim with Terry McLaurin holding out. Very few places remain, but nobody is giving up just yet.
This will be decided by the finest margins. All it'll take is one big play or one crucial mistake to flip the script during Washington's preseason slate. And the microscope will be closer than ever on Ja'Corey Brooks.
The undrafted free agent started camp impressively. Brooks dealt with some concentration issues after that, but he's got the physical tools to make a difference if he proves worthy of the opportunity.
That's the most difficult challenge. And the only way Brooks is going to force the issue is by dominating when targets come his way.
Last season's outstanding production at Louisville should serve him well. But if Brooks doesn't know it already, this is the big leagues.
Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
Zach Ertz and John Bates will get the night off in New England. That leaves the Commanders depending on Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff as their expected tight end tandem during the preseason contest.
Sinnott is a lock to make the team, but that's not quite the case with Yankoff. The former undrafted free agent out of UCLA did remarkably well to make the 53-man squad against all odds in 2024. He didn't see much time on the field, but the experience of being around throughout a memorable campaign for the franchise should serve him well.
It doesn't guarantee anything this time around. Yankoff has to prove himself all over again. He's flashed encouraging promise this summer. How he performs in the preseason will go a long way toward determining his fate.
Washington had four tight ends on the roster last season. Yankoff must leave no doubt that they have to do the same again.