Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines as their third and final preseason game becomes the focus of attention?
As far as Wednesdays go, it was a pretty strange one even by NFL standards. For the Washington Commanders, it was back to the practice field as they looked ahead to their final preseason contest against the Cincinnati Bengals - a game where head coach Ron Rivera is expected to rest the majority of his starters to avoid unnecessary complications before Week 1.
Until then, the stories causing debate include Rivera's praise for Jamin Davis, Sam Howell's situation, Eric Bieniemy on the Commanders' increasing resilience on offense, and a potential trade for Logan Thomas.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commander LB Jamin Davis praised
It's not been perfect from the Washington Commanders' linebacking unit during the preseason, especially when it comes to gap discipline and run fits. However, Ron Rivera seems to be pleased with how things are unfolding at the defensive second level.
Rivera gave special praise to Jamin Davis during his Wednesday media availability via SB Nation. The head coach claimed he's playing faster, and hitting harder, with the former first-round selection out of Kentucky also looking the part in coverage for good measure.
"Very pleased with Jamin. Jamin’s playing fast. But he’s playing faster. He’s more confident. You see his run, hit and tackle. I mean, he’s still really good at that. I thought some of the coverage stuff he did a nice job putting himself in position and really pleased with the progress."Ron Rivera via SB Nation
This is a big upcoming campaign for Davis with his fifth-year option looming. The Commanders are counting on him heavily to make another leap forward and become the force many anticipated coming out of college, which bears more significance when one considers the lack of investment in Washington's linebackers this offseason.
Commanders QB Sam Howell's progress
After a starring effort during the Washington Commanders' preseason win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, the NFL is starting to look at Sam Howell a little differently. The light seems to have come on where the former fifth-round selection is concerned, which is bringing increased confidence about what he might be able to accomplish next season.
Howell is benefitting greatly from the belief everyone around the Commanders has in his abilities. Of course, having such a top-level coach like Eric Bieniemy steering him in the right direction doesn't hurt, either.
When talking about how Howell is coming along ahead of his first full season as an NFL quarterback, Bieniemy stated via Pro Football Talk that the daily progress is evident. This is down to the North Carolina product's exceptional work ethic and attention to detail.
"Sam’s progression has been right where you would like it to be. He’s learned a lot being out there each and every day. Sam autocorrects, and you love that about him. He takes it personal, he takes work home, and he loves to talk through all the little nuances of the game. So I think he’s right where he needs to be."Eric Bieniemy via Pro Football Talk
Everything seems to be going much better than many anticipated for Howell. Although this remains a gamble of epic proportions from Ron Rivera with his job on the line in 2023.
Eric Bieniemy on improving Commanders resilience
All the talk of players being unhappy with the way Eric Bieniemy is going about his business seems like a distant memory now. The respected offensive mind is getting a decent tune out of his offense and although it was against the Baltimore Ravens' second and third-string units, there was a lot to like about how his unit moved the football.
The Washington Commanders will face some tough upcoming challenges, there's no getting away from that. Bieniemy knows this better than anybody, but the play-caller is confident that some improved resilience within his squad can bring about better fortunes based on his comments via the team's website.
"Our guys are finding ways -- creative ways -- to drag themselves across the finish line. When you have that resilience, it's something that you can build upon. I'm starting to see the second effort. On top of that, I'm seeing guys play faster. So, all those things are just coming to light."Eric Bieniemy via Commanders.com
The Commanders are enjoying their football again. It was a baptism of fire for many who've not experienced such high standards of excellence from their offensive coach before, but Bieniemy is eager to maximize this chance to enhance his own head coaching credentials and wants the very best for his players at all times.
Again, it won't be easy. But as Bieniemy knows from his trophy-laden stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, nothing worth having is.
Could the Commanders trade Logan Thomas?
It was encouraging to see Logan Thomas going through some practice drills on Wednesday. The veteran tight end missed a number of weeks through a calf problem, but all signs point to being ready for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals barring any further complications during his rehabilitation.
The Washington Commanders placed an incredible amount of confidence in Thomas this offseason. But the growing influence of John Bates and second-year-pro Cole Turner means there are quality options if the converted quarterback suffers more regular-season problems on the health front.
Alex Kay of The Bleacher Report had a more drastic perspective on Thomas. The writer named the former Virginia Tech standout as one player that could be traded ahead of final cuts, which would be a shocking development given the injury to Armani Rogers and the inconsistent production of Curtis Hodges.
"Logan Thomas' longstanding tenure with the Washington Commanders has been marred by health issues and poor production. Although he's shown some elite potential on plenty of occasions, he's never been able to harness that talent with any consistency. A fresh start for both sides may make the most sense here. Given [John] Bates' noticeable improvements and [Cole] Turner's potential, the Commanders should be shopping Thomas around right now. The team would benefit more from clearing the path for these younger prospects to shine while also clearing almost $7 million off the books by dealing or releasing Thomas."Alex Kay, The Bleacher Report
This makes a lot of sense, even though it's piling more pressure on Turner despite his encouraging offseason. Keeping him around in 2023 is highly likely, but Thomas is a prime cut candidate next spring unless he becomes one of the league's best at the position.