Preseason Game – Week 2
August 17, 2021
By Noonefromtampa
The first cuts of training camp are today, with rosters going from 90 players down to 85 players after the first loss to the Patriots.
Top draft picks Jamin Davis, Sam Cosmi, Benjamin St-Juste and Dyami Brown all played well against New England but without any really spectacular moments.
More importantly, which players fighting for a roster spot helped or hurt themselves in the first preseason game?
Players on the Upswing
Jaret Patterson led the team in rushing and receiving. This game was important to show he could be a versatile NFL running back in both the rushing and receiving. Patterson did not disappoint. He needs to show continuity and build on that performance in game 2. He will probably get a shot as the kick returner during the games in weeks 2 and 3.
Dax Milne had two catches on four targets and a punt return for 19 yards. This was a decent performance for a 7th round pick, who looked more polished than expected. He is making the case for a seventh wide receiver roster spot.
Sammis Reyes had two catches on three targets for 25 yards, and had some good blocks and some not so good blocks. For someone playing in his first football game of his life, his performance wasn’t too bad. He may still only end up on the practice squad but he is fun to watch.
Torry McTyer is someone we have heard more and more about from the coaches the last couple of weeks. He used the game to introduce himself to the fan base, getting in on three tackles and a pass break-up in the end zone.
Players Who Need to Show More
Jonathan Williams and Lamar Miller (released) had similar average performances in both the rushing and receiving games.
Antonio Gandy-Golden used his size to position himself well for the catch on the two-point conversion, except he did not secure the ball and lost it upon contacting the ground.
Jonathan Bostic, who isn’t seemingly fighting for a roster spot, may have lost a step and is struggling to get into position to make plays when he needs to. If another player in this position group can step up and fill his role, he might be replaceable this season.
Cameron Cheeseman was drafted to be the long snapper. He looked alright on punt snaps, but with kick attempts, the timing between him, the holder Tress Way and kicker Dustin Hopkins seemed way out of whack. Hopkins missed both field goal attempts.
Players on the Downswing
Temarrick Hemingway looked like he was in his first football game. He dropped passes, missed blocks and got trucked on one play trying to pass block. It was announced he was in concussion protocol following the game. [On Sunday, WFT signed tight end Caleb Wilson, who was with the team in December 2019.]
Keith Ismael seemed overmatched on a number of plays and did not block with much leverage or strength.
Darrick Forrest played like a rookie not ready for the speed of the NFL. His angles to ball were off and his tackling (like much of the defense) left a lot to be desired.
Already Released
The Washington Football Team released three players this past Sunday.
Fan favorite wide receiver Kelvin Harmon was one of those players. He only played 13 offensive snaps and one special teams snap last week.
Running back Lamar Miller, who caught the Steven Montez touchdown pass, was released. With Patterson’s showing this was not entirely unexpected given that Miller is also 30 years old and a 9 year veteran, and young players are much more valued long-term.
Defensive back Chris Miller, who played only 3 defensive snaps and 6 special teams snaps, was the third player released.
Next Game
Friday, August 20 at 8:00 PM, versus Cincinnati Bengals. The game is live on NFLN for out of market viewers.