5 Commanders players who are defying expectations at training camp

It's been an enthralling training camp for the Washington Commanders so far. Dan Quinn and his coaching staff are ramping things up with their players, and the competitive fire is growing. Padded practices turned things up considerably, which is all part of the assessment phase before some difficult decisions are due.

The Commanders have massive expectations to meet this season. They are no longer a trendy upstart pick. They are a genuine Super Bowl challenger after general manager Adam Peters made some ultra-aggressive moves throughout his second recruitment period at the helm.

This is nothing the Commanders weren't expecting. The NFL has pushed them to the forefront with eight standalone games in 2025, five of which are on primetime. National attention is growing exponentially, which makes them a target that other teams will be looking to topple.

Looking at the mentality being displayed, the Commanders are ready to meet their upcoming challenges head-on. There is a sensational resolve in the locker room as everyone works towards one common goal. And training camp has also thrown up a few nice surprises for good measure.

With this in mind, here are five Commanders players who are defying expectations at training camp.

Commanders players who are defying expectations at training camp

Tyler Owens - Commanders S

The Washington Commanders saw something others didn't in Tyler Owens last year. He was quickly scooped up in undrafted free agency, and the decent guarantee on his rookie contract suggested that those in power had high hopes. They were rewarded accordingly.

Owens surged to a deserved roster spot against all odds. The explosive safety got hurt early on, which dented his momentum. He did return during the campaign, but the Commanders brought him along gradually as a special-teams asset.

Washington's decision-makers never lost faith in Owens. They are convinced he's got the physical tools to make an impact on the defensive rotation once he becomes fully acclimatized. And looking at his improved comfort level at training camp, he's been working extremely hard to achieve this objective.

This relentless commitment is paying off. Owens has been getting plenty of reps with the first-string defense, both as a safety and even as a nickel cornerback. The athleticism and physicality are key traits Dan Quinn looks for in his defensive backs, so it wouldn't be a shock to see the Texas Tech product become more involved if the same trend continues.

Playing time is at a premium in the safety room. However, the versatility Owens brings to the table is something working in his favor.

Jacob Martin - Commanders DE/OLB

Fears around the edge-rushing room were eased considerably before training camp thanks to the arrival of Von Miller. The future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer might be at the end of his glittering career, but the Washington Commanders are confident that he's got one more year of solid production in the tank before potentially walking away from the gridiron.

Miller's arrival raised urgency for everybody. It's one less spot on the roster for someone else, so it's a fine-margins situation for many aiming for depth places or prominent involvement.

Jacob Martin is among them. The free-agent signing has been a moderate performer throughout his career without ever setting the world alight. The Commanders are confident that their exceptional coaching staff can bring more out of the veteran, and the initial signs at camp are promising.

Martin is generating pressure consistently during drills. There's some useful explosiveness, and his technique looks refined. Those in attendance have been suitably impressed, but it remains unclear what sort of role he'll occupy when the regular season commences.

It doesn't seem likely that Martin won't be included on the 53-man squad. But he'll need to keep showing out in his quest for key rotational reps now that Miller is part of the equation.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB

There is arguably no player gaining more headlines for the right reasons than Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The seventh-round pick is relentless in his quest to not only make the 53-man roster but also secure prominent backfield involvement immediately. He's off to a good start.

Croskey-Merrit is gaining more hype than almost every seventh-rounder around the league. The decisiveness of his cuts and physical running style have gone down extremely well with fans and coaches alike. This trend continued when the pads came on, which was the measuring stick everyone was waiting for.

The No. 245 overall pick is passing every test with flying colors so far. Washington is still erring on the side of caution, but Croskey-Merritt is leaving no doubt. He's got a role to play, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve his objectives.

This is far better than even the brightest optimist envisaged. At the same time, it didn't take many by surprise when one considers how smooth Croskey-Merriitt's transition has been this offseason.

The Commanders will likely deploy Croskey-Merritt heavily in the preseason. If he continues to make a splash, don't be surprised if Kliff Kingsbury has some regular-season packages in place for the first-year pro.

Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB

One of the biggest positives to emerge from training camp so far is the secondary. They have dominated almost from start to finish, flying around the field and making life extremely uncomfortable for the offensive unit in every phase.

This is exactly what the Washington Commanders had in mind. They want the cornerback unit to become an area of strength, and everything is proceeding as anticipated so far.

Some are gaining more hype than others. Mike Sainristil, Marshon Lattimore, and second-round rookie Trey Amos have generated the lion's share of positive headlines. However, it would be foolish to ignore the contribution made by Noah Igbinoghene.

Igbinoghene became the forgotten man this offseason despite getting a new one-year deal from the organization. The former first-round pick enjoyed the best campaign of his professional career in 2024, displaying impressive coverage abilities in some big-time moments. There remain some deficiencies against the run, but it represented a step in the right direction nonetheless.

This was an undoubted positive, but the former Auburn star must prove himself all over again this summer. Competition for places is fierce, but Igbinoghene is taking his game up another notch, too.

That's only going to bode well for the Commanders if everyone else meets their end of the bargain.

Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR

All the hype centers on wide receiver Terry McLaurin and when his contract situation will come to a successful conclusion. He's back in the building on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury. However, both sides are reportedly nowhere close to finding some middle ground right now.

Until McLaurin makes his triumphant return to the practice field, others must step up. Some are gaining more hype than others, but Luke McCaffrey is quietly stacking good days en route to additional involvement this time around.

McCaffrey looks much more comfortable in his second offseason with the squad. The Commanders didn't quite trust him with substantial targets as a rookie, although he saw the field plenty. Washington's coaching staff has put a lot more on his plate this summer, which has brought a positive response so far.

The former third-round pick out of Rice is making plays. McCaffrey has extra familiarity with Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts, and it shows. There is also a lot to like about his improved chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels to further raise optimism.

Watching how McCaffrey fares in joint practices and the preseason will provide a better measuring stick regarding his progress. Until then, all signs are pointing up.

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