5 Commanders players who must ruffle feathers at 2024 training camp
By Dean Jones
Intensity will rise and competition for places is going to be fierce during the Washington Commanders' upcoming training camp. Dan Quinn and his staff spent early offseason workouts implementing new schematic concepts. Their demands will be much greater in the coming weeks.
There's a growing sense that the Commanders can make significant strides next season. Things are hanging in the balance despite wholesale changes to the playing personnel. But the improved energy and professional standards suggest this team can be more competitive at the very least.
Camp is a chance for players and staff to continue laying the foundations for some stiff upcoming challenges during the regular season. Everyone is getting a chance to impress. How they perform throughout the strenuous summer will go a long way to determining their fate.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players who must ruffle some feathers when camp commences.
Tariq Castro-Fields - Commanders CB
Fans are concerned about whether the Washington Commanders have enough dependable cornerbacks heading into the campaign. Mike Sainristil's arrival at No. 50 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft sures up the interior. It's on the outside where things are more worrying.
Those in power seem confident about Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes' ability to bounce back under more accomplished staff. Michael Davis' signing could go either way. The rest are vying for places on the 53-man roster.
The stakes couldn't be much higher for Tariq Castro-Fields. The former Penn State star has the size and length that Dan Quinn normally looks for in his cornerbacks. However, there isn't much NFL experience to go off from his first two campaigns in the nation's capital.
If Castro-Fields displays assured production over Washington's camp, it might be enough for Quinn to give him a shot. Others will also fancy their chances of extended involvement, so this dynamic is something to monitor closely before the time for final cuts arrives.