Joshua Josephs keeps turning limited Commanders chances into lasting impressions

The Washington Commanders got good returns from rookies Sonny Styles and Antonio Williams in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. They got the hype, and rightfully so, but fifth-round edge rusher Joshua Josephs also flashed enough quality to suggest he could become an important piece of the puzzle.

Josephs didn't generate many headlines, certainly not compared to Styles, Williams, and even special-teams ace Tyler Owens. He played only 13 snaps on defense, but the Tennessee product stood out a couple of times.

One play, in particular, caught the eye.

Joshua Josephs' debut cameo should have encouraged the Commanders

While all the focus was on Styles trucking Eagles running back Saquon Barkley en route to his first career sack, Josephs was on the edge. The Day 3 selection caught prolific right tackle Lane Johnson off guard, smashing a strong arm into the offensive lineman and knocking him to the ground with ruthless efficiency.

Those sorts of contributions go unnoticed in the grand scheme of things. But when the Commanders reviewed the game film, head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones no doubt pointed it out.

Just how much time Josephs will see on the field now that edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. is back from his one-game suspension remains to be seen. But if the No. 147 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft keeps making this kind of impact against elite-level tackles like Johnson, it'll stay on the radar.

At the very least.

These Week 1 flashes weren't without substance, either.

Josephs was among the standout performers at training camp, displaying the speed, length, and dynamism that convinced the Commanders to take a chance. He backed this up in the preseason, even scoring a touchdown by bursting onto a loose football against the Detroit Lions.

Small wins will make a massive difference for Commanders rookie Joshua Josephs

Small things become big when you put them together. That's exactly what Josephs has done since joining the Commanders.

Nobody is expecting miracles from Josephs right now. The Commanders have Armstrong, big-money addition Odafe Oweh, and fellow free-agent signing K'Lavon Chaisson as their primary pass-rushing options. The rookie is next in line, so it's all about maximizing chances when they arrive and potentially becoming a big piece of the special-teams plans along the way.

It's early days, but the signs are promising.

Stacking little wins makes a massive difference. It builds confidence, gets the fans onside, and lets the coaching staff know you can come through when it counts.

Josephs is well on his way to achieving these objectives. If he can keep this up through a 17-game season in Year 1 of his professional career, he could become another draft steal for general manager Adam Peters to brag about.

There is a long way to go and a lot of football left before that. But if Josephs' promising efforts during brief involvement at Lincoln Financial Field are any indication, the future looks incredibly bright.

Bigger tests are coming, and Josephs remains cemented behind the veteran trio in Washington's edge rusher unit. Even so, don't be surprised if enough confidence arrives to get him more involved as the campaign goes on.

Because there is no doubt Josephs belongs.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow