Training Camp – Rise & Fall – Part 1

August 9, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

Between now and the season opener, I’ll be posting a series of columns about which player’s stock is rising or falling plus who is likely to make the final roster. This is early look at camp to date.

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell is a rookie quarterback and rookie QBs have their up days and down days. The reports from training camp have indicated he has followed that pattern. Jacoby Brissett has also had good and bad days as he learns the Eric Bieniemy offense. Jake Fromm on the other hand has struggled through a good portion of the camp according to various reports. Ron Rivera is committed to Howell, but they have ensured that Brissett has worked reps with the first team group in case Howell falters. Rivera’s job likely depends on how well the quarterback and offensive line play this season.

53-Man Roster Locks: Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett

Practice Squad: Jake Fromm (I would not be surprised if Washington picks up a released player from another team as their practice squad quarterback.)

Wide Receivers

This is one of the stronger position groups on the team. While four of the positions are pretty much locked up at this point, it will be interesting to see the competition for what figures to be the last two wide receiver spots. The players in the mix for the last spots are veterans Bryon Pringle, Marcus Kemp, and Dax Milne, along with rookies Kazmeir Allen, Jalen Sample, Mitchell Tinsley, Zion Bowens, Kyric McGowan, and Brycen Tremayne. Pringle and Kemp were offseason additions who are familiar with the Chiefs offense, while Milne is a drafted holdover. The rookies are all undrafted free agents. Allen was brought in for his return skills and will probably compete with Pringle and Milne on that front. Kemp, Sample, Tremayne will probably compete for the “big” wide receiver spot, as all are 6’4”. NFL teams have a strange compulsion for big receivers in the red zone and every team seems to feel the need to have one. Tinsley has been mentioned several times in the camp reports for making difficult catches and having a hard work ethic.

53-Man Roster Locks: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson, Dyami Brown

In contention: Bryon Pringle, Marcus Kemp, Kazmeir Allen, Jalen Sample, Mitchell Tinsley (with Sample and Tinley more likely to the practice squad).

Probable Releases: Dax Milne, Zion Bowens, Kyric McGowan, Brycen Tremayne

Running Backs

Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson are the top two running backs on the roster. The team will likely keep three on the 53-man roster and one on the practice squad. The team drafted Chris Rodriguez in this year’s draft. Jonathan Williams has bounced on and off the team many times and Jaret Patterson has been a capable player the last two seasons. Alex Armah is more of a fullback or H-back type player, so I included him as a tight end. Derrick Gore has been on several different teams the last couple of years. Armah has also been practicing with the depleted tight end group recently. This may boost his chances of making the team if he can show versatility in position flexibility. Whether he sticks or not most likely depends on the number of healthy tight ends at the end of preseason.

53-Man Roster Locks: Brian Robinson, Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez

Practice Squad: Jaret Patterson or Jonathan Williams.

Probable Releases: Derrick Gore

Tight Ends

This group has been plagued by injuries for the last couple of years and the trend has continued this year. Armani Rogers suffered an Achilles injury during OTA’s and is out for the year. Logan Thomas and Curtis Hodges have been dealing with leg injuries. John Bates, Cole Turner, and Brandon Dillion round out the position group. Tight ends are likely to be an important facet in Bieniemy’s offensive schemes, so having a healthy, productive group is going to be a key factor to success. Turner, who missed a good portion of last year with a hamstring injury, has been having “fun” in the new offense. He has been having a good camp according to various reports and should see an increased role this season. Bates is solid second, blocking tight end and occasional pass catcher. Thomas looks to be back close to the level he was at before his knee injury two years ago, but the team has been cautious with him, making sure his calf strain does not become worse. The Chiefs had only three tight ends on the roster last season, but with this team’s injury history they may elect to keep four.

53-Man Roster Lock: Logan Thomas, John Bates, Cole Turner

On the Bubble: Curtis Hodges, Alex Armah

Probable Release: Brandon Dillion

Offensive Line

As of today, this is probably one of the two the weakest position groups on the team. The center position has been revamped with Nick Gates, Tyler Larsen (who was re-signed) and drafted rookie Ricky Stromberg. Both guard positions also have new starters this season with Saahdiq Charles and Sam Cosmi taking starting reps. Charles, who has a significant injury history, has been out with a calf strain, giving Chris Paul an opportunity to displace him. Newly signed Andrew Wylie starts at right tackle and Charles Leno Jr. returns at left tackle. Wylie and Leno have struggled at times against the formidable Washington defensive line. The only proven backups are Larsen at center and Cornelius Lucas at tackle. Line depth is critical for every NFL team because of the physicalness of the position – people get dinged up during the season and backups frequently start games over the course of a season. Behind the top 8 players there is a lot of “who is that” going on: players like Alex Akingbulu, Mason Brooks, Braeden Daniels, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Nolan Laufenberg, Aaron Monteiro, and Trent Scott. Scott, a tackle, is the most experienced, having been around the league for 6 years, playing in 61 games and starting 20. Of the younger players Brooks has been getting the more favorable reviews from the media at camp. He held his own against Phidarian Mathis in drills. Most teams carry nine or ten offensive linemen on the active roster and two more on the practice squad. The scrimmage against the Ravens, along with the three preseason games will be critical to figure out who the top players are.

53-Man Roster Locks: Charles Leno Jr., Chris Paul, Nick Gates, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie, Tyler Larsen, Cornelius Lucas, Ricky Stromberg

On the Bubble: Saahdiq Charles, Trenton Scott

Practice Squad: Mason Brooks, Braeden Daniels, Nolan Laufenberg

Probable Releases: Alex Akingbulu, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Aaron Monteiro

Defensive Line

They have a huge group of defensive linemen in camp, sixteen total players. With a healthy Chase Young and Phidarian Mathis, this figures to be the strongest unit on the team. Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and Montez Sweat round out the top tier players in this group. Key contributors returning from last year include Efe Obada, John Ridgeway, James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill. The Commanders added K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. through the draft. Joining them are Abdullah Anderson, Will Bradley-King, Curtis Brooks, Benning Potoa’e, and Joshua Pryor. The person that gets the most media attention for his play is Young. It seems he is back to his rookie form following the serious knee injury. The team will probably keep 9 defensive linemen and fewer linebackers than most other teams. David Bada was already placed on injured reserve and is out for the season. Shaka Toney was suspended for gambling.

53-Man Roster Locks: Chase Young, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, Phidarian Mathis, Efe Obada, John Ridgeway

On the Bubble:  James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, K.J. Henry

Practice Squad: Benning Potoa’e, Andre Jones Jr.

Probable Releases: Will Bradley-King, Curtis Brooks, Joshua Pryor

Linebackers

Along with the offensive line, this is probably the weakest position group on the team. They have Cody Barton and Jamin Davis as the starters with Milo Eifler, De’Jon Harris, Khaleke Hudson, and David Mayo as the backups. Most teams carry five or six linebackers on their 53-man roster. So, it figures that the Commanders will only carry 4 or 5 with the extra players going to the defensive line and secondary. David Mayo is one of the key special teams players but is not very effective in defensive snaps. The defensive scheme will be a lot of 4-2-5 and 5-1-5 looks this season.

53-Man Roster Locks: Cody Barton, Jamin Davis, David Mayo

On the Bubble: Milo Eifler, De’Jon Harris, Khaleke Hudson

Practice Squad: [If Eifler or Harris don’t make the roster, one of them will end up here.]

Cornerbacks

Between cornerback and safety, the Commanders will probably keep nine or ten players. Emmanuel Forbes, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste are the primary corners with Danny Johnson the key backup. The team will need to find another corner from the pool of Christian Holmes, Tariq Castro-Fields, DaMarcus Fields, D.J. Stirgus, Nick Whiteside II, Jace Whittaker, and Rachad Wildgoose. The good news is that Troy Apke was placed on injured reserve, so we won’t have to have that conversation again this year.

53-Man Roster Locks: Emmanuel Forbes, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, Danny Johnson

On the Bubble: Christian Holmes, Tariq Castro-Fields, DaMarcus Fields, Rachad Wildgoose

Practice Squad: Probably Holmes and/or Castro-Fields

Probable Releases: D.J. Stirgus, Nick Whiteside II, Jace Whittaker

Safeties

This is a group that is crowded is a lot of very good players which is a nice place to be in the NFL. The Commanders are likely hedging their bets on being able to resign Kamren Curl when he become a free agent at the end of the season. The key players in this group are Percy Butler, Curl, Darrick Forrest, Jartavius Martin, and special teams Pro Bowler Jeremy Reaves. Barring a change in player status, on the outside looking in are Terrell Burgess, Ferrod Gardner, Joshua Kalu, and Kendall Smith.

53-Man Roster Locks: Percy Butler, Kamren Curl, Darrick Forrest, Jartavius Martin, Jeremy Reaves

On the Bubble: Terrell Burgess

Practice Squad: Ferrod Gardner

Probable Releases: Joshua Kalu, Kendall Smith

Special Teams

Tress Way has been dealing with a back injury, so Colby Wadman has been brought in to handle the punting duties until Way is healed up. Michael Badgley was brought in to compete with Joey Slye. Slye has had the upper hand in field conversions so far in camp. Camaron Cheeseman is the sole long snapper but has been erratic at times in camp.

53-Man Roster Locks: Tress Way, Joey Slye and Camaron Cheeseman

Probable Releases: Colby Wadman, Michael Badgley