4 Commanders players who must bounce back at 2024 training camp
By Dean Jones
It was a positive start to the Washington Commanders' preparations for the 2024 campaign. Dan Quinn and his staff got their new-look roster energized and ready for the challenges that lie ahead. There's a newfound sense of exuberance and willingness to put in the hard yards in pursuit of being more competitive.
This was the first step in what will hopefully be a profitable summer for the organization. Things will get more intense and the margins will get slimmer when Washington congregates for training camp. There's a different fire within any player when the pads go on. Adam Peters and others in positions of power are going to be watching developments closely before finalizing their initial 53-man roster.
The Commanders' influx of acquisitions via free agency and the draft raised competition and heightened the sense of urgency across the board. Some statuses are secure. Others face a fight to establish themselves. A select few need to galvanize performance levels and show the new regime why they were once so highly touted.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders players who must bounce back at the team's training camp in 2024.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - Commanders CB
Much has been made of Emmanuel Forbes Jr.'s rookie struggles. Ron Rivera tasked the player too much. He underestimated how tough his adjustment period would be and the cornerback suffered accordingly. A huge effort is needed throughout camp to restore confidence.
Forbes is never going to be the most physical cornerback in the league. That's normally the prerequisite for outside coverage presences in Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s expansive scheme. It relies a lot on press coverage and corners making plays without much assistance from elsewhere.
The former first-round pick out of Mississippi State didn't thrive when tasked with these responsibilities last time around. The Washington Commanders need to find a happy medium with Forbes. They need to test him heavily during camp and preseason games before deciding on his specific role.
It'll be a crash course in heightened demands. Hopefully, Forbes can rise to the occasion en route to a potential bounce-back campaign in 2024.