Commanders preseason players to watch: Jobs, roles and something to prove

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders likely won’t play many of their more familiar names in Friday night’s preseason opener.

The spotlight goes elsewhere.

That’s we why read the clues surrounding Quan Martin’s future. Explored why Van Jefferson is always on time. Considered Colson Yankoff’s possible leap.

There are others seeking a larger role, pushing to land on the good side of the roster bubble or trying to stand out from the crowd. Friday night’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium (7 p.m.) offers the first real opportunity to make their case.

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The third-year lineman celebrated the front seven’s work immediately after the joint practice by quoting Adam Sandler’s tackling machine movie character in “The Waterboy.”

“Everybody came out with the same mindset: being a more physical defense and showcasing our new defense,” an excited Newton said. “And as Bobby Boucher says, open a can of whoop-ass.”

That’s exactly what Washington would love to see from Newton on game days.

For a 2024 second-round selection — No. 36 overall — who has yet to establish a spot high in Washington’s defensive tackle rotation, Newton’s development has flown under the radar this summer.

Following the joint practice, I asked the man himself for an update.

“Camp is going great,” Newton responded enthusiastically. “I feel like this is my best off-season. I had great OTAs. I felt like camp was phenomenal for me. Now I’m just ready to play.”

Everyone associated with the Commanders is ready for a breakout season from the 6-foot-2, 295-pounder who wrapped up his college career at Illinois by being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

It’s not that Newton has played poorly. Things just haven’t clicked enough. Though Newton exploded for three sacks in Washington’s Week 17 loss to Dallas, that accounted for nearly half of his seven career sacks.

Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Tim Settle represent the starting line in 3-4 base formations. With Settle (calf strain) out against Miami, Shy Tuttle stepped in as the nose tackle. Ends Charles Omenihu and Dorance Armstrong can shift inside on passing downs.

Where does Newton fit? He will play for sure, and perhaps more than last season, simply because the 3-4 means more tackles on the field. Because he isn’t a massive space-eater, Newton hasn’t established himself as a three-down player.

Even if his run defense improves, it’s the pass rush where his quickness can shine and, ideally, create some whoop-ass of his own.

The older brother on the offensive line won’t be in the nest for much, if not all, of the season. For the younger birds, it’s time to fly on their own at guard and tackle without their guide by their side.

Chris Paul benefited greatly from playing next to Laremy Tunsil last season during the left guard’s most extensive work over his four-year career. He impressed in pass protection with the five-time Pro Bowl selection to his left. The soft-spoken Paul also gained valuable insight into tricks of the trade and how to prepare for the NFL grind.

“He is one of my rocks,” Paul said of Tunsil following Tuesday’s practice.

News that Tunsil suffered a potentially season-ending torn left triceps during Saturday’s practice changes the mentor-mentee dynamic.

Tunsil’s recovery timeline won’t be established until after he undergoes surgery. Whatever the duration, “that’s a really, really, really tough loss,” Paul said. “I’m just praying for him. I know the type of guy he is, and he’s gonna come out of this much stronger.”

There’s no replacing Tunsil, either his individual talent or the impact of his skill, technique and drive across the line. But the games will happen.

Brandon Coleman, another Tunsil disciple, went from competing with Paul for the left guard job to being tasked with replacing Tunsil at left tackle. Washington’s staff isn’t asking Coleman and Paul to replicate what Tunsil provided on the left side. It needs them to keep that side from becoming a weakness. Jayden Daniels’ health may depend on it.

Paul didn’t begin prepping for this moment over the weekend. That’s not how a Tunsil student operates.

Paul spent chunks of the past two offseasons “making an effort to train around other [interior] offensive linemen, some of whom are the best in the game,” including Kansas City’s two-time Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith and New Orleans’ Caesar Ruiz.

That experimentation included dropping roughly 20 pounds this offseason. Not because, at 324 pounds, he was overweight by the team’s estimation. Nor was it specifically about preparing for Washington’s new zone-blocking scheme, which will ask its guards to move more in space. Paul wanted to see how his body responded.

“I’m like, I wanna try this, I want to see how I feel — and I love it,” Paul said.

He played next to Coleman when an injured Tunsil missed the final three games last season, and did so again in Wednesday’s joint practice. There were few obvious breakdowns from the left side in pass protection, though the Dolphins’ front got the better of Paul on occasion and Washington’s run game lagged.

For now, Quinn appears locked in on the Coleman-Paul tandem. Steady work against the Dolphins on Friday would help keep questions about that plan at bay.

It’s not that Tunsil will disappear from the off-the-field scene or be more than a text message away when they need counsel. But for Paul, Coleman and Conerly, this moment is about applying lessons learned and leaning on each other.

“We stick together thick and thin,” Paul said. “The birds are absolutely flying.”

Assessing player ups and downs in an individual practice is rarely definitive. There are 22 players on the field at any given time, making it impossible for sideline watchers to see it all.

Kickers are a different story.

When it comes time for the field goal portion of practice, there is a scoreboard.

Stevens, an undrafted rookie free agent, is 43 of 48 on field-goal attempts in training camp. That includes a perfect 6 of 6 in the joint practice, with distances ranging from 33 to 58 yards.

Jake Moody, the incumbent starter, also made each of his six attempts on Wednesday. Due to erratic accuracy over previous practices, last year’s kicker is only 36 of 47.

It’s not only the accuracy separating the two, but the power generated on each kick. While Moody’s attempts travel on a higher arc, Stevens’ kicks soar like a rocket, often reaching the goalposts high above the ground.

That provided Iowa’s all-time leader in made field goals with the leg to blast kicks from beyond 55 yards with regularity in college. That range has become increasingly valuable in the NFL, where some teams are willing to consider field-goal attempts once the ball crosses midfield.

There is nuance beyond seeing the football go through the uprights, says the man tasked with holding the football before the kickers strike.

“The biggest thing that people will look for is how you’re striking the ball,” said Tress Way, Washington’s holder and punter. “You’re playing in Washington, you’re in the NFC [East], so you’re gonna have some tough weather. … You really wanna find somebody who just looks like the balls are coming out of a JUGS machine.”

That’s been Stevens’s MO in practice. Now comes a chance under the stadium lights.