The Washington Commanders were back on the practice fields of Ashburn Wednesday to kick off training camp. While the opening of training camp is always exciting, especially for fans, Washington’s training camp feels different in 2023.
Head coach Ron Rivera met with the media Tuesday and appeared happy and relieved. Rivera spoke again after Wednesday’s practice, and his mood remained much the same.
The sale of the Commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris & Co. feels like a permanent black cloud has been lifted.
As for what happened on the field, here are some observations and takeaways from the first day of camp.
Josh Harris met the team
The new owner of the Commanders arrived at practice in grand fashion, sporting a pair of Nike Commanders’ tennis shoes and a smile on his face. One of Harris’ minority partners, Mitchell Rales, joined him, as the two spent time speaking with general manager Martin Mayhew and legendary quarterback Joe Theismann. Multiple players said Harris was set to speak to the entire team.
Josh Harris arrives at training camp. Watch for the big smile at the end. pic.twitter.com/T1sk9kxhlP
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 26, 2023
Daron Payne out with a "minor toe injury"
Star defensive tackle Daron Payne missed the first day of practice with what the team termed a minor toe injury, and Payne is day to day. It doesn’t appear this is anything significant.
Daron Payne has a minor toe injury and won’t practice today per team spokesman. Payne considered day to day.
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 26, 2023
Ron Rivera liked what he saw from Chase Young
One of the stories from Day 1 of camp was defensive end Chase Young shedding the bulky knee brace. Tight end Logan Thomas did, too. However, Young remains the story. This is a massive year for Young and he looks prepared to deliver on the promise that made him the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020.
Head coach Ron Rivera was happy with what he saw from Young Wednesday and all through the offseason.
“I was very pleased with it,” Rivera said. “I mean, he had a good offseason, I do know that. I followed him on social media and every now and then, he’d send me a little text to show me what he’s been doing.”
A good start to camp for Sam Howell
https://t.co/1t2G0Pbk6f pic.twitter.com/qF4WG54GXJ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 26, 2023
The first day of training camp is not the greatest barometer to judge players. But quarterback Sam Howell needed a good start to camp, and he had just that. Washington’s three quarterbacks were intercepted four times — three were from Jake Fromm — and none were from Howell.
Per Zach Selby of commanders.com:
As expected, Sam Howell was “QB1” during team drills, just as he was during OTAs, and the second-year pro had a strong day with several impressive throws, particularly in 7-on-7 drills. He opened the day with a strike to Jahan Dotson, and he followed that up with a rainbow pass to Antonio Gibson. There were a handful of incompletions, but he still placed the ball in spots where only the receiver could make the catch.
There will be good days and bad days for Howell. That’s training camp, and Howell is a young quarterback. But Howell needs to build off of each practice, and Wednesday was a good start.
A good day for the tight ends
and we are back pic.twitter.com/cnlCkmsQ4T
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 26, 2023
Watch Howell find Logan Thomas on this route. A good start to camp for Thomas and Cole Turner. With a young quarterback, the Commanders need production from the tight end position. If healthy, Washington likes its tight ends much better than people on the outside realize.
Watch out for Brian Robinson out of the backfield
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. is not known as a receiver. Robinson is out to prove he can be a dangerous threat out of the backfield. On Wednesday, Robinson had what some believed was the catch of the day.
Wow what a catch from BRob to start team drills. Made an over the shoulder grab near the sideline with near perfect ball placement from Howell
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) July 26, 2023
ESPN’s John Keim, on his podcast, “The John Keim Report,” was also impressed by Robinson’s catch.
