5 Commanders fringe roster candidates making a name for themselves at camp
By Dean Jones
This time of year is exciting and uncertain in equal measure for most NFL players. Teams have 90-man rosters right now, but that won't be the case for much longer. Whittling this down to 53 is on the immediate horizon, so time is of the essence for those looking to carve out roles for themselves.
The Washington Commanders are starting with a clean slate under the new regime. Adam Peters turned over more than half the roster this offseason. This increases competition for places and should weed out the weak before final cuts arrive.
That sounds harsh, but it's the only way this once-proud franchise is going to progress. Carrying passengers became synonymous with Ron Rivera's four years at the helm. That's not going to be the ethos moving forward, so it's a case of shape up or ship out for players no matter their status under the old staff.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders roster fringe candidates who are making a name for themselves at the team's 2024 training camp.
Commanders fringe roster players making a name for themselves at camp
Jeremy McNichols - Commanders RB
The Washington Commanders seemed pretty set with their running back options heading into the season. Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. are the backfield tandem capable of spearheading Kliff Kingsbury's offensive renaissance. Most fans believed Chris Rodriguez Jr. would occupy the No. 3 spot after showcasing some encouraging traits during his rookie campaign.
That's less clear now. Rodriguez still has a stranglehold on the spot, but Jeremy McNichols is staking a strong claim for roster involvement based on how things are unfolding at camp according to those in attendance.
McNichols is a journeyman who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers. He's someone known to Adam Peters, so the new general manager must have seen something he believes can be of use to the Commanders next season.
The former Boise State standout shouldn't take anything for granted, especially considering Rodriguez's raised performance levels during the first day of padded practice. McNichols' chances look better now than when camp began, but enhancing this newfound momentum is crucial.