Commanders veteran keeps proving at camp that he’s not going away quietly

The Washington Commanders have some position battles that have yet to be resolved at training camp. These will probably go through long into the preseason before final cuts are due. And head coach Dan Quinn has already shown a willingness to ignore previous reputations to find the right formula.

It was a recipe for success last season as the Commanders went from the basement to the NFC Championship game. Fans should expect the same trend to continue this time around.

One of the most complex riddles to solve is the wide receiver dynamic. Competition for places is fierce, and there are very few spots up for grabs. Even so, the absence of second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin is giving others a bigger opportunity to impress.

And for Michael Gallup, he's not going to go away quietly in his quest for NFL redemption.

Michael Gallup is pushing hard for Commanders' roster spot at training camp

Gallup ended his one-year retirement this offseason. Getting released by the Dallas Cowboys left him devoid of motivation after signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. He opted to walk away entirely, but some self-reflection away from the spotlight saw his hunger return.

It was an up-and-down offseason program for Gallup. He started impressively, but a hamstring strain prevented him from participating in Washington's mandatory minicamp. That dented his momentum, leaving many wondering if the former third-round pick out of Colorado State was fighting a losing battle.

This brought a positive response. Gallup is flashing promise at training camp, and he's getting rave reviews from respected coaches like Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury. It'll take a lot more to make the team, but confidence is growing nonetheless.

Expecting miracles from Gallup is unrealistic. The wideout is slowly ramping things up, which is understandable after so long away from the gridiron. The next stage is shining in joint practices and maximizing every target that comes in the preseason. That will ultimately decide his fate.

McLaurin (contract pending), Deebo Samuel Sr., Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, and Noah Brown will be on the 53-man roster. That leaves one or perhaps two positions for the rest, depending on what Adam Peters and Quinn decide. Players like undrafted free agent Ja'Corey Brooks, K.J. Osborn, Chris Moore, and Mike Strachan will also fancy their chances, so the margin for error remains razor-thin for Gallup and everyone else.

There's no doubt Gallup has a new lease of life. Whether it's enough to make the Commanders' roster or seek another shot elsewhere is another matter.

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