5 grave concerns from Washington Commanders 2024 training camp
By Dean Jones
Commanders kicking spot
Brandon McManus' release was the right thing to do. The Washington Commanders are looking to remove the stigma of disgrace associated with previous owner Dan Snyder. Having someone around facing sexual assault allegations wasn't a good look.
That left the Commanders facing a dilemma at the kicking spot. Ramiz Ahmed for a chance but wasn't up to the required standard. Riley Patterson - claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars - has been inconsistent. His two misses in Preseason Week 2 at the Miami Dolphins could come back to haunt him when it's all said and done.
Adam Peters will be scouring the waiver wire for alternatives when final cuts begin around the league. Washington will have their pick of the litter considering the Carolina Panthers have veteran Eddy Pineiro. The new general manager must get his next move right in pursuit of avoiding problems when the regular season arrives.
The writing is on the wall for Patterson. It would be a surprise if he made the squad. What comes next is less certain for the Commanders. Trading for Cade York might not alter all that much either, in all honesty.
Commanders WR2 spot
The Commanders need someone other than Terry McLaurin to step up and become a significant factor in the passing game. This franchise has been far too reliant on the Pro Bowl pass-catcher in recent years. Every productive NFL offense needs multiple wide receivers to make plays consistently, keeping the defense on their toes and making things easier for the quarterback.
This bears more significance this year with the Commanders moving forward with rookie Jayden Daniels as their starting signal-caller. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is accurate at all three levels of the field and boasts a rapid-fire release to get the football into the hands of his playmakers. They must capitalize on opportunities when they arise.
Olamide Zaccheaus performed well at Washington's training camp. Is he a legitimate WR2? Dyami Brown is making encouraging progress. Can he be anything more than a vertical threat? Then, there's the curious case of Jahan Dotson.
Dotson's expected surge hasn't arrived as yet. Speculation regarding a potential trade or outright release seems far-fetched. However, these rumors are an indictment of how much more the former first-round pick needs to do in pursuit of alleviating concerns.
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