Commanders camp standout faces make-or-break moment in roster battle

Making an impression in the wide receiver room is a difficult task for those further down the pecking order. The Washington Commanders are giving everyone a fair chance, but it's a high-stakes situation with razor-thin margins.

There's been one silver lining from Terry McLaurin's contract holdout. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State doesn't have his new deal yet and won't be participating until something is worked out. Although disappointing, it's giving Dan Quinn and his coaching staff a chance to see what others can do with increased responsibilities on their shoulders.

Some are thriving more than others. Ja'Corey Brooks fits into that category, taking camp by storm over the opening few days to bolster his hopes of making the 53-man roster.

Commanders insider believes joint practices could decide Ja'Corey Brooks' roster fate

Zach Selby from the team's website unsurprisingly named Brooks among his biggest camp standouts so far. However, the senior writer thought some tricky upcoming challenges could determine his fate one way or another.

[Ja'Corey] Brooks is a long way from earning a spot on the 53-man roster, but he certainly helped his cause during the first two days of camp. Brooks isn't getting too excited about his start to camp, which is smart, because there are several more tests for him to take on. He'll have to maintain his production in the preseason as well as joint practices with the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens. Still, he should have his coaches' attention after what he did earlier in the week.Zach Selby

Flashing promise going up against fellow teammates is one thing. Doing it against legitimate opposition is something else entirely.

That's the test awaiting Brooks in the not-too-distant future. He's off to a good start, but that will count for nothing if he cannot build on this newly acquired momentum. And if the former Louisville standout has a similar impact on joint practices and the preseason, he might just find himself on the 53-man squad when push comes to shove.

It could still go either way for Brooks. The Commanders have plenty of strong options in the receiver room, and there aren't many places genuinely up for grabs. This isn't a bad thing from Washington's perspective, but some good players are going to be out of luck when final cuts arrive.

Brooks is provoking a discussion at the very least. He came into the Commanders with a big chip on his shoulder after going undrafted. He's putting it to good use so far, which is a trend that can hopefully continue long into the future.

Time will tell on that one. But the Commanders cannot be anything other than thrilled by his initial output.

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