4 mouth-watering clashes at Commanders training camp in 2023
By Dean Jones
Which individual battles are worth keeping a close eye on when the Washington Commanders take to the practice field for training camp?
With the Washington Commanders sale finally in the rearview mirror, it won't be much longer before attention primarily focuses on football matters. We are just a few Sundays away from Week 1, with players descending on Ashburn currently for the most important part of the team's preparations by a considerable margin - training camp.
This will be a welcome relief for Ron Rivera after another offseason of distractions. The head coach has an incredible amount of pressure on his shoulders next season, which could be his last if significant improvements aren't made with Josh Harris' ownership group watching every move intently.
Camp is a time when players can stake a claim no matter their depth chart projection. There will also be some intriguing matchups to keep an eye on throughout what promises to be a fascinating few weeks.
On that topic, we picked out four mouth-watering Commanders' training camp clashes in 2023.
Lamar Jackson vs. Commanders defense
One of the most eagerly anticipated occasions in the coming weeks centers on the Washington Commanders participating in joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens. This will be a solid measuring stick for the group considering John Harbaugh's men are expected to be among the postseason challengers next season within a highly competitive AFC North division.
This pits Washington's exceptional defense against former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who signed a megabucks deal this spring and has plenty of newly acquired weapons such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers to utilize. If the Commanders can hold their own in a controlled setting versus such a dynamic signal-caller, it'll be a tremendous confidence boost heading into the team's Week 1 encounter with the Arizona Cardinals at a rocking FedEx Field.