One of the Commanders’ surprise standouts is becoming hard to ignore

ASHBURN, Va. — Colson Yankoff made the catch of practice. Naturally, he wanted to talk about everything he did wrong beforehand.

The specific day — July 30 — matters because the Washington Commanders’ third-year tight end is frequently making highlight grabs, often one-handed or diving.

For this grab, Yankoff beat a linebacker down the middle of the field and rose above multiple defenders for a touchdown. Yankoff understood before the snap that the coverage might create an opportunity. Then the middle opened; he ran, and the ball arrived.

Good play. Good tape. Move on.

Unless you can’t help but provide an honest assessment of the overall day’s work.

“I had a pretty crud day before that catch,” said the affable Yankoff. “I was a little frustrated with myself on some reads, on some different routes and some ways I was doing stuff. So it felt good to put something good on tape, but then just like the bad plays, the play’s over.”

Friday’s home preseason game against the Dolphins is another good-tape showcase. For a player whose athletic ability has never been difficult to spot, the details are now the point.

“He’s really carved out his way,” Quinn said. “It’s the relentless work that sets him apart.”

That work has followed a football life defined by reinvention.