Commanders training camp hype is building for a player who was barely on the radar

For the Washington Commanders, no group of players has been more intriguing to watch in training camp than the wide receiver room.

Second-team All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin continues to be unavailable as he seeks a contract extension. Additionally, Noah Brown is just now returning from an injury suffered at minicamp, while several of last year's weapons — Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jamison Crowder — are no longer with the team.

This has made room for a handful of rookies and veterans alike to emerge as not only roster hopefuls, but players who could make a significant impact. One such name that hasn't gotten much attention, but could be in line to surprise some fans, is Chris Moore.

Commanders' insider tips Chris Moore as lively candidate to make the 53-man roster

Once McLaurin is available, Washington's top five receivers appear set. The two-time Pro Bowler will be joined by blockbuster trade addition Deebo Samuel Sr., Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and fourth-round rookie Jayline Lane as virtual roster locks. This leaves one or possibly two spots open for the rest.

That means the players competing for those final slots, although it wouldn't be entirely out of the question to roster a seventh receiver, will be undrafted free agent Ja'Corey Brooks, K.J. Osborn, the unretired Michael Gallup, and Moore. And the camp battle is gathering pace.

The 2016 fourth-round pick has played for four different teams throughout his nine-year NFL career, most recently the Arizona Cardinals. Moore's best season came in 2022 for the Houston Texans when he caught 48 passes for 548 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

According to Commanders' insider Zach Selby from the team's website, Moore has stood out with some impressive showings in training camp. This gained more momentum during their second padded practice, when his highlights included a one-handed downfield catch as well as a separate contested grab.

It was never expected that Moore would seriously compete for a role in Washington when he was signed to a reserve/futures contract. His previous season with the Cardinals involved splitting time between the roster and the practice squad before ultimately being released in November. At 32 years old with plenty of mileage under his belt, it seemed likely that his time in the NFL had run out.

This may be Moore's last chance to prolong his career. By all indications, he's making the most of it.

We'll see if it's enough to end up on the right side of the bubble when the Commanders' roster is finalized.

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