Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines as the team gets set for their last preseason engagement before the 2023 season?
We are on the eve of what will be the Washington Commanders' final big portion of their evaluations before final cuts. Players on the fringes must make a big impression during the team's preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals to warrant further involvement, with the prospect of further additions arriving via the waiver wire something else to monitor depending on which opportunities become available.
Until then, the stories generating substantial column inches include Chase Young's progress, pessimism surrounding Terry McLaurin's status, Ron Rivera's confidence, and Sam Howell becoming a potential long-term problem solver.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin's status
No sooner had some good news surrounding Terry McLaurin's availability for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals come to light, than ESPN's senior insider Adam Schefter painted a bleaker picture about the wide receiver. Something that raised concerns among Washington Commanders fans along the way.
"While Washington has expressed optimism about the status of Terry McLaurin, who suffered a turf toe injury on Monday night, the Commanders’ wide receiver is uncertain for the regular-season opener vs. the Arizona Cardinals, per sources. McLaurin will work to be ready for the start of the season, but it’s too early to say whether he will be. His injury typically is a multiple-week injury."Adam Schefter via X
Losing someone of McLaurin's standing for any length of time is a blow given his influence both on and off the field. The Commanders have other dynamic weapons within the wide receiver room to call upon, so it's a next-man-up mindset before the Pro Bowler is healthy enough to participate.
Expect to see Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel get more looks with McLaurin out of the lineup. The likes of Dyami Brown and tight end Logan Thomas might also get increased involvement in the Ohio State product's absence.
Commanders HC Ron Rivera's confidence
Some difficult decisions await Ron Rivera and his staff in the coming days. Trimming the roster down from 90 to 53 is one of the toughest parts of being in a position of power, with many NFL dreams coming to an end unless they make the practice squad or get picked up elsewhere.
The Washington Commanders have churned over their roster plenty this spring in the hope of improved fortunes. When asked about how he feels about his current options, Rivera seemed happy enough based on his comments via Sports Illustrated while also proclaiming the decision to implement one big round of cuts rather than doing it in stages a wise one.
"Where we are right now I think all these guys are guys that we feel really good about in terms of our preparation…We'll be meeting on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to discuss all that. I think it's an excellent idea (and) I'm really glad they did that because what it does for us is obviously we will be able to hold some guys out specifically. But we also know that we have enough guys to get through the game and have a good game."Ron Rivera via Sports Illustrated
Sentiment won't become a factor for Rivera considering how much pressure is on his shoulders with Josh Harris' ownership group watching every move intently. As stated previously, the promise of new additions on the waiver wire once rosters around the league become final is a realistic one.
Commanders hopeful over Chase Young
It was fantastic to see Chase Young participating in team drills during practice this week. The defensive end's been missing from the Washington Commanders defensive front after suffering a stinger during their preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, but it seems as if the former No. 2 overall selection is making good progress in the hope he can be ready for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Commanders are taking things easy with Young given his recent injury history. When asked about how the Ohio State product was progressing, head coach Ron Rivera stated via Sports Illustrated they are still erring on the side of caution until the player receives clearance to resume contact again.
"It was good to see [DE] Chase [Young] out on the field. We did some work. We let everybody know that we are keeping our heads out of contact so he can get some work and continue with his rehab. We are just waiting on his final exam to get him back out on the field."Ron Rivera via Sports Illustrated
This obviously means Young won't be on their field this weekend for Washington's preseason finale. But that isn't a big deal considering how inconsequential this particular contest is compared to the next one that will take place at what's expected to be an electrifying FedEx Field.
Young has a lot of pressure on his shoulders this season and is also entering a contract year. Therefore, keeping him out of harm's way until medically cleared is the only realistic course of action.
Commanders QB Sam Howell's seal of approval
Sam Howell is riding on the crest of a wave currently. The quarterback looks like a different figure from the one that began early offseason workouts, displaying a level of confidence and conviction that saw him comfortably emerge as the Washington Commanders QB1 heading into the campaign.
The Commanders have been luckless in their search for a franchise quarterback for what seems like decades. Whether Howell steps up and finally solves this significant issue remains to be seen, but head coach Ron Rivera is clearly confident he's found a guy at long last based on his comments via Pro Football Talk.
"I think there’s not that question mark still, you know what I’m saying? For three seasons, I’ve always felt that I had a question mark and now you feel like, ‘Okay, this is pretty good.’ I mean, I’m pretty comfortable, pretty confident and I look forward to seeing it. I really do. I mean, the other night seeing it was, ‘Wow, he did some really nice thing. Let’s keep rolling, let’s keep growing and hopefully it continues.’"Ron Rivera via Pro Football Talk
All this momentum surrounding Howell is incredibly positive. But it will count for nothing if the signal-caller cannot raise his performance levels when competitive games arrive in the coming weeks.
Howell is generating buzz at just the right time. What's important for the North Carolina product is harnessing this into franchise-caliber performances to propel the Commanders back into contention.