Commanders' rookie could stun everyone on the big stage in Week 2

Adam Peters made it pretty clear that he wanted to supply Jayden Daniels with more offensive firepower heading into his quarterback's second season. The Washington Commanders traded for established star Deebo Samuel Sr. and brought in several other experienced pass-catchers for training camp.

When the dust settled on the final roster, veterans Michael Gallup and K.J. Osborn were gone, and promising undrafted rookie Ja’Corey Brooks was on the practice squad. Peters initially kept just five receivers, then brought one of the vets — Chris Moore — back from the practice squad before the season opener.

With standout Terry McLaurin still shaking off the rust from his long contract standoff, Samuel was the only receiver who made a major impact in Week 1. That was fine, because the New York Giants’ offense was so anemic that Washington only would have needed one touchdown to claim victory.

Commanders could demand more from rookie Jaylin Lane against the Packers

That does not figure to be the case going into a Week 2 matchup against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.

The Packers put up 27 points while holding the high-powered Detroit Lions’ offense to just 13. Washington will likely try to run the ball a lot to keep that aggressive defense — now featuring All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons — in check.

But Green Bay stuffed a very good Lions’ running game, holding them to a paltry 46 rushing yards on 22 carries. Kliff Kingsbury is going to have to get some production out of his passing attack if he wants to consistently move the ball.

This could end up being a coming-out party for Commanders’ rookie Jaylin Lane.

The fourth round pick out of Virginia Tech was only targeted twice in his debut and caught just one pass. But he was on the field for more snaps than both Moore and Luke McCaffrey, Washington’s other backup receivers.

His place on the roster from week to week is secure. Lane is the Commanders' primary punt returner, but he should begin carving out a significant role on offense as the campaign progresses.

The Commanders prize versatility across their entire roster, and the wideouts are no exception. The top three receivers — McLaurin, Samuel, and Noah Brown — can each run out of the slot. However, none are classic, quick players.

Lane has all the attributes of a productive slot receiver. That’s the position he played most often in college, and he showed great ability in the open field.

The same skills that make him a dynamic punt returner were on display in his final two seasons in Blacksburg. When Lane is running at a central defender, he has the quickness, agility, and acceleration to make one decisive move and pull away.

McLaurin is the only other receiver on the roster who can do that, and he is too valuable running routes as an X receiver on the perimeter to put him inside very often. Washington already has Zach Ertz working the middle of the field. Second-year players McCaffrey, Ben Sinnott, and Colson Yankoff were supposed to supply an extra boost on seams and other middle routes, but they have not been able to do that with any consistency so far.

Pretty soon, Lane is going to get his chance.

Lane was not able to do anything in the return game against the Giants, but he did display the instincts of a veteran punt returner. Oftentimes, merely making a secure catch and not allowing the ball to hit the ground and roll is a big play. It doesn’t result in anything on the stat sheet, but he is already making good decisions in that important discipline.

But he should have an even larger role to play as a receiver. McLaurin is going to begin demanding more targets very soon, and Samuel is an obvious weapon. Brown can get downfield. Ertz and Austin Ekeler are smart veterans who can run effective short and intermediate routes.

Except for McLaurin, who is going to draw a lot of defensive attention, none of them has the explosiveness of Lane. Look for him to take on more responsibilities in the offense as the season goes forward.

And there would be no better time than with the national spotlight glaring.