7 Commanders players on the hot seat entering Preseason Week 1
By Dean Jones
Sam Hartman - Commanders QB
Jayden Daniels will start in the Washington Commanders' preseason opener at the New York Jets. The No. 2 pick earned the right after thriving throughout camp so far. This raised excitement among the fanbase, but it's unlikely the quarterback's participation will be for long.
Others lower down the pecking order will get a chance to showcase their skills during the game. Sam Hartman is under more pressure than most to stake his claim. Undrafted free agents have almost no margin for error, so hitting the ground running and displaying the correct poise under center is pivotal.
Hartman developed a close relationship with Daniels in a short space of time. He's flashed during limited involvement in scrimmages. Dan Quinn wants to get him more involved. What better time to do just that than in a live-fire environment versus NFL opposition?
The former Wake Forest and Notre Dame star has his work cut out, in all honesty. Much will depend on how many quarterbacks the Commanders take through and whether the rookie can beat out veteran Jeff Driskel for the No. 3 spot. If Hartman doesn't do quite enough to make it, he's a likely candidate for the practice squad if nobody else scoops him off the waiver wire.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB
Not much has been said of Javontae Jean-Baptiste since he joined the Commanders as a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The edge rusher has some nice athletic intangibles to call upon, but this was always going to be a long-term project rather than someone who could potentially impact the defensive rotation right away.
Jean-Baptiste is developing under the guidance of Washington's outstanding staff. There haven't been many big splashes to speak of at training camp according to those in attendance, so his role in 2024 will likely be determined by how well he performs during the preseason.
The former Notre Dame star should get plenty of reps in a game-day setting for the first time. Capitalizing on them will be a key part of his ongoing evaluations. It would be a big surprise to see him off the squad. At the same time, he must earn the right to take his place on the 53-man roster.
Shining during reps on the defense and also making his presence felt on special teams is important. Jean-Baptiste should feel confident about his spot if these goals are met throughout Washington's preseason schedule.
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