Training camp exposes harsh reality for Commanders rookie in over his head

Competition for places is fiercer than ever within the Washington Commanders. Some players are flourishing with added pressure on their shoulders. Others are quietly falling by the wayside.

That's standard procedure at training camps across the country. Getting a shot in the NFL is one thing, but capitalizing on it is something else entirely. And considering the high stakes attached to the Commanders' fortunes in 2025, anyone not pulling their weight will be shown the door.

It's the new way of doing business in Washington. Nobody gets a free ride these days. Whatever players accomplished in college or previously in the pros doesn't matter. The Commanders are all about looking to the next challenge and nothing more.

Jacoby Jones is facing an uphill battle to stick with the Commanders

And for one rookie looking to emerge from obscurity, the signs don't look especially promising.

The wide receiver room is under a cloud right now. That has nothing to do with how Washington's pass-catchers are performing, but it's Terry McLaurin's contract standoff and trade request that's becoming a distraction. Hopefully, the matter can be resolved soon, and everyone can firmly focus on the football side of things once again.

Others have shone in McLaurin's absence. Deebo Samuel Sr., Luke McCaffrey, Noah Brown, and fourth-round rookie Jaylin Lane are locks to make the team. Michael Gallup, K.J. Osborn, and Chris Moore are staking strong claims. Even undrafted free agent Ja'Corey Brooks has flashed promise.

Less is known about another UDFA wideout, Jacoby Jones. The former Central Florida standout is experiencing some growing pains during his early transition. Not entirely unsurprising, but it does nothing to enhance his roster claims or to even stick around on the practice squad.

Jones will get chances to turn the tide over Washington's preseason slate, but even that might not be enough. Five wideout spots are locked up. That leaves one or two more. Another two will be allocated to the practice squad, which would represent the base case scenario for the first-year pro currently.

This won't be lost on Jones. He'll be striving with everything he has to get noticed, but it's a tough situation. And the Commanders have no room for passengers in their quest to topple the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles within the NFC East.

From the outside looking in, it would be a big surprise if Jones stuck around in any capacity. That doesn't mean he cannot catch on somewhere else, but the waves in Washington just haven't been big enough so far.

It's that simple.

More Commanders news and analysis