Washington

Commanders

McSorley’s most recent NFL snaps came with the Cardinals in 2022 after Kyler Murray suffered a torn ACL. The Patriots signed him to a one-year deal last offseason but he didn’t make the team. He has since spent time on the Bears and Steelers’ practice squads. The Commanders are likely to be without reserve quarterback Sam Hartman for their upcoming preseason matchup with Miami. McSorley, who played under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona, was a natural choice on short notice.

Bryant’s recent workout with the Commanders reportedly went well and the team decided to take a flier on the once-promising receiver. Bryant in his first two NFL seasons with the Steelers had a combined 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns as a dominant deep threat for Ben Roethlisberger. Bryant, 32, had stints in the CFL and XFL after being suspended from the NFL indefinitely in 2020. At best, he’ll earn a rotational role among the Washington receivers this season if he makes the final roster.

Robinson and fellow running back Austin Ekeler are listed as co-starters on the initial depth chart for the Commanders, but it was Robinson that appeared to be the lead back on the opening drive. He saw five carries to two carries and one target for Ekeler, with both backs playing only the opening drive. The first-team offense would cap off their opening possession with a three-yard Jayden Daniels rushing score before leaving the field for good. Keep an eye on the backfield situation through the remaining preseason games as the two veterans battle for touches in the new-look Washington offense.

Daniels played on just one series against a Jets defense that sat all of its starters, but it was a good debut for the rookie. After sailing a screen pass over Austin Ekeler’s head, Daniels tossed a patented deep ball to Dyami Brown, which turned into a 42-yard-reception to convert a third down. He would later find the end zone on a three-year run off the read option to give the Commanders their first points of the day. It’s just one drive, but Daniels was as advertised in his limited debut.

According to Quinn, Daniels has “surpassed” the high expectations he entered camp with, earning the right to sit atop the depth chart to open the preseason. The apparent frontrunner in the “quarterback competition” being run by the Commanders, Daniels, will take the first reps for the team this weekend against a stout Jets defense that ranked 12th in points allowed and third in yards allowed. Daniels is all but a lock to open as the Commanders’ starter in Week 1 when they visit the Buccaneers and has top-10 fantasy upside thanks to elite rushing abilities.

According to Reiss, the 49ers “are now willing to listen to trade offers” for the star wide receiver and have granted him permission to seek out a new contract with potential suitors. Aiyuk and the 49ers remain at an impasse as he’s long sought out a new contract since breaking out for 75-1,342-7 last season. It was reported earlier by NBC’s Matt Maiocco that the Browns and Patriots could be in play for Aiyuk, with Reiss echoing that sentiment while also adding that “barring a change, [the Steelers] do not appear to be a potential trade destination any longer.” There was no mention of the Commanders in Reiss’ article. It sounds like a trade could be in the works once Aiyuk has a contractual agreement in place. We’d expect to hear more on this soon.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s a clear message nonetheless. The No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft will see his first taste of NFL action next weekend as he prepares to take the mantle as Washington’s franchise quarterback. Daniels enters 2024 with high expectations, coming off a Heisman campaign in which he threw for 3,812-40-4 while adding another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The Commanders haven’t rushed to officially name Daniels the starter, as he and Marcus Mariota have both seen snaps with the first-team offense this offseason. With that said, if Daniels isn’t named the starter for Week 1, it would be a surprise.

The team also signed wide receiver Byron Pringle. Washington released fellow receivers Dax Milne and Damiere Byrd in a pair of corresponding moves. Patterson kicked for the Browns and Lions last year, connecting on 16-of-18 field goal tries and 41-of-44 extra point attempts. He signed with the Jaguars in the offseason but was waived earlier this week. Patterson will compete with Ramiz Ahmed for the kicking job in Washington during training camp.

Pringle began his career with the Chiefs and has since become a journeyman, playing for three different teams in the past three years. He will return to Washington after going for 161 yards on 14 receptions with the Commanders last season. Pringle will also see plenty of work on special teams.

Newton didn’t log much work this offseason after it was revealed the rookie second-rounder underwent surgery in May to fix a Jones fracture on his left foot. Newton had the same injury on his right foot months before that. Now healthy, Quinn said Newton will soon join team drills, but they’re holding off on that for the time being. Newton is expected to provide an immediate boost to a defense that ranked amongst the worst in league history last season. Newton totaled 7.5 sacks and 8.5 TFLs in 12 games at Illinois last season and was named as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.