Fans were eager to get some clues about which wide receivers have separated themselves from the pack. The Washington Commanders' final preseason game, or who was active for it, was the biggest tell yet from head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters.
There was no Terry McLaurin or Stefon Diggs. Third-round rookie Antonio Williams got the night off, as did Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown.
Luke McCaffrey did not. And this instantly sparked speculation on social media that his place on Washington's initial 53-man roster might not be as solid as some had thought.
Luke McCaffrey faces an anxious wait to find out his Commanders fate
McCaffrey's been something of an enigma since becoming the No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was always going to be a work in progress after transitioning to the wideout spot in college, and that's proved to be the case over his first two seasons.
There have been flashes, but something prevented the previous offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, from getting McCaffrey heavily involved. Judging by the Commanders' actions in Baltimore, the Rice product is still pretty far down the pecking order, and it'll be an anxious wait before his eventual fate is determined.
It's not looking especially promising. But there is one niche that should be McCaffrey's saving grace.
He remains a decent kick returner. McCaffrey may even be the most capable kick returner on the squad right now. He was on a Pro Bowl trajectory in this discipline before breaking his collarbone last season, and he's flashed promise in this area once again over the summer.
The further down the depth chart you go, the more important special-teams becomes. And that could be the key to McCaffrey getting a reprieve when it comes to the crunch.
Kick returning could be Luke McCaffrey's saving grace to make Commanders' roster
This was a wake-up call for McCaffrey. Watching some he's competing with get the night off was no doubt disappointing. Bringing in one of his three targets wasn't great, either. But kick returning could be enough to book his place on the team.
Even so, if McCaffrey wants to become more of a factor on the offensive rotation this season, there is a significant amount of hard work ahead in Year 3 of his professional career.
McCaffrey is not a rookie anymore. The mistakes he made in Year 1 will not fly now, and this rude awakening confirms it.
It won't be much longer before McCaffrey's fate is determined. Playing in the final preseason game doesn't bode well, but it would still be a shocking development if he were cut loose.
Returning kicks is an important part of the game. McCaffrey is Washington's best option. Nobody did enough to take this spot from him during the preseason, and that should see him through despite speculation to the contrary.
Of course, nothing has been confirmed. Fortunately for Commanders fans, there isn't much longer to wait.
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