4 Commanders players who could ruffle feathers at 2023 training camp
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders players could give Ron Rivera and his staff plenty to think about during this year's training camp in Ashburn?
This promises to be one of the most dramatic and celebratory weeks in D.C. sports history. While Ron Rivera and his staff are putting the final pieces in place before players descend on Ashburn for camp, fans have their eyes firmly set on July 20 when the Washington Commanders officially fall under new ownership at long last.
Much has been written about Dan Snyder's reign that dragged the Commanders into a torrid state. But there is now genuine hope things can begin improving under Josh Harris and his respected team of investors - even if a lot of hard work is ahead once other NFL owners give their $6.05 billion purchase a formal seal of approval this week.
Even though it's an exciting time, players will be focused on staking claims for positions on the 53-man roster. And as is normally the case at this time of year, a few surprises might come to the fore that'll make Rivera and other coaches alter their perceptions before coming to a final conclusion.
With this in mind, here are four Commanders players that could ruffle some feathers at training camp in 2023.
Cole Turner - Commanders TE
After standing pat with their tight-end options to most people's surprise, the Washington Commanders are counting on those around to repay their faith. Logan Thomas is the No.1 option and looked the part throughout early workouts, but the encouraging performances of Cole Turner didn't go unnoticed after a frustrating rookie campaign on the injury front.
Turner is a decent pass-catcher that has enough agility to get open quickly. While the former fifth-round selection out of Nevada remains an unknown quantity after gaining just two receptions from nine targets, his attitude this offseason suggests a willingness to maximize a potentially bigger role coming his way.
Eric Bieniemy's scheme is renowned for being friendly to tight ends. If Turner continues to impress throughout camp, it might be enough for the respected offensive mind to allocate more targets his way when the regular season arrives.