5 things to watch at Commanders minicamp
The Washington Commanders kick off a mandatory three-day minicamp Tuesday in Ashburn. Players reported Monday for media day, including defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat and offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. All three had skipped the voluntary OTAs over the last two weeks.
This will be the first minicamp for new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who has made his presence known throughout OTAs, earning praise from both sides of the ball for bringing much-needed energy to practice.
With the minicamp beginning Tuesday, here are five things to watch for the Commanders.
Chase Young
Of course, Young is going to be a focus for the three-day minicamp. Had he been at some of the OTAs, his presence wouldn’t be mentioned as much. However, Young, who had his fifth-year option declined in April, is back on the field with his teammates in what will be a huge year for him. Young looked healthy and fast in the three games he played in 2022. It will be interesting to see Young on the field this week. It will be even more interesting if Young speaks to the media.
Battle at left guard
Head coach Ron Rivera has already told us Saahdiq Charles and Chris Paul are locked in a battle to start at left guard. Andrew Norwell will be released. Charles is entering his fourth NFL season and has enjoyed spurts of success, but health has sometimes been an issue. Paul was a seventh-round selection in 2022 and started the final game vs. Dallas. He’s raw, but strong. The coaches like him. Unless the Commanders add a veteran, it’s one of these two at left guard and minicamp is the next step in their battle.
Rookie defensive backs
Rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is two-for-two in impressing the Commanders. Forbes stood out at the rookie minicamp and so far in OTAs. Fellow rookie Quan Martin missed the rookie minicamp but made his presence known throughout OTAs. The team has moved Forbes around in OTAs to prepare him. His future is at outside cornerback, but if you’re going to experiment with him, now is the time. Same for Martin. With the entire team together, everyone wants to see how Washington lines up its secondary, particularly Forbes and Martin.
Sam Howell
Sam Howell is always going to be on this list. He’s shown growth throughout OTAs. He hasn’t been perfect, but he’s had some outstanding moments. More importantly, he learns from his mistakes, doesn’t get rattled and moves on to the next play. The coaches want to see that continued growth from Howell at the minicamp. The arm strength or the athleticism isn’t the issue; Washington’s coaches want to see Howell continuing to show command of the offense. This is another big week for Howell in his quest to be QB1.
Bieniemy's influence
We’ve mentioned Bieniemy’s energy. It’s evident throughout practice. Bieniemy will get on players for not hustling, for sloppy routes, etc. He will also dish out praise. The offensive players love Bieniemy. The defensive players appreciate what he’s brought to practice. Throughout OTAs, we’ve heard Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio discuss some of the changes Bieniemy brought in from Kansas City. Everyone appears happy changing some of the team’s past routines. What will Bieniemy change about minicamp? It’s also another step in the relationship between Bieniemy and Howell.
