Commanders-Patriots observations: Skirmishes, Bon Jovi and Washington's glaring problem

New York Times

a day ago

FOXBORO, Mass. — The Commanders' two-hour joint practice with the Patriots on Wednesday was both a tryout for players trying to land roster spots and a preseason game for the starters.
The session, carefully planned to include ample 11-on-11 and red zone work, got chippy (twice) and left Patriots coach Mike Vrabel bloody.
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'You know how football is,' Commanders defensive end Deatrich Wise said. '(Vrabel) dove in there. He showed some tenacity. (It's like) he's still playing.
The workout also provided the best measure yet of the state of the Commanders in their quest to exceed last season's 12-5 record and NFC Championship Game appearance.
Here's what we saw and learned at Gillette Stadium:
Both happened late in practice (the 12th of 15 periods) and involved the Commanders' defense and Patriots' offense during 11-on-11 red-zone drills. A Patriots running play up the middle caused tensions to boil over. Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore was involved, but the skirmish quickly dispersed and play resumed.
'It's football. It is what it is,' Lattimore said afterward. 'It's a physical sport. So, if that's too physical for you, you shouldn't be playing football.'
On the next play, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye found receiver Mack Hollins for a touchdown in the right corner of the end zone.
The sides got into it again shortly after, with Patriots tight end Gee Scott jumping up from the pile fairly heated. Vrabel jumped in to break up players but emerged with a cut on the right side of his head.
The Patriots weren't able to do much on the ground, which is exactly what Washington had hoped for when it beefed up its line with additions such as Javon Kinlaw and Eddie Goldman.
Defensive tackle Daron Payne has also had a solid training camp, which continued into Wednesday.
'At the end of the season, I wasn't as healthy,' he said. 'But I'm feeling healthy and moving around good. Body's good, mind's good.'
Washington's pass rush was effective, too. Lest there was any doubt, Von Miller can still do the things he could in his prime, bending under tackles and beating them with his quick first step.
Maye completed a number of deep shots and found plenty of room in the middle of the field against the Commanders' defense.
But Washington ended its penultimate series on a high note when linebacker Bobby Wagner tipped a pass up the middle and cornerback Mike Sainristil caught it for the interception. Cornerback Car'lin Vigers earlier had a pass breakup in the end zone.
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Rookie cornerback Trey Amos has been a consistent bright spot in camp, and that continued against the Patriots. That, in and of itself, is notable given Washington's history; two years ago, the Commanders' joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens exposed rookie corner Emmanuel Forbes.
'He's got some great technique,' Lattimore said of Amos. 'Whoever taught him that, he's really showing it out here. He's working every day and he's a dog. I love to see that from a young corner, just coming in with his head on straight and showing what he can do.'
With Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown both out, the Commanders' lack of receiving depth has been glaring in recent practices, especially so on Wednesday.
Deebo Samuel, a versatile playmaker who can be a chess piece for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, doesn't (and shouldn't) take on the workload expected of a leading wideout or even a No. 2 receiver. And so far, none of the Commanders' 10 other receivers has emerged as consistent playmakers or reliable pass-catcher capable of taking on more.
Ja'Corey Brooks had an impressive one-handed catch early in practice, but the bulk of Daniels's completions were to Samuel, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz. Take the offense's final series of practice, for instance:
That's troubling given Brown's injury history; he missed the final four regular-season games and the playoffs last season because of a lacerated kidney, and has been limited in training camp because of a knee injury, which kept him home on Wednesday.
The hope, of course, is that McLaurin signs — and soon. He doesn't have much leverage in his talks with the team, but its lack of starting-caliber wideouts and receiving depth have become increasingly favorable to McLaurin as he seeks a new deal.
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McLaurin and guard Sam Cosmi, both of whom are on the physically unable to perform list, did not travel with the team to Foxboro. McLaurin is 'holding-in' because of his contentious contract negotiations with the team, and Cosmi is recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the postseason.
Five others are dealing with minor injuries and did not travel, either: Brown; backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is dealing with a 'lower leg strain,' according to Quinn; left guard Brandon Coleman; linebacker Jordan Magee and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
With Coleman out, Andrew Wylie filled in at left guard and Nick Allegretti moved to right guard. Rookie Josh Conerly Jr. started at right tackle.
Quinn said the five injured players are not dealing with long-term issues. Mariota did not participate at all in Monday's practice in Ashburn, Va., and did not do any team drills last Saturday. Quinn said his level of concern is 'low' for Mariota and he anticipates having a better gauge of his health next week when the team returns from Foxboro.
Brown suffered a knee injury during minicamp in June, and Quinn has stressed a thorough recovery so the receiver doesn't miss a step in the process and risk a setback.
'He's champing at the bit to go,' Quinn said. 'A little bit like Marcus, in this instance, early August, we're trying to really extend this ramp-up — the strength, the movements.
The Commanders' preseason opener here on Friday will be the Josh Johnson-Sam Hartman show. Daniels and the starters are not expected to play.
To maximize evaluations this week, Quinn essentially divided the team into three groups. The first units — on offense and defense — took the most reps in Wednesday's practice, making it essentially their first preseason game. Another group of players participated in some of the practice and will get some reps in Friday's game. The third group played sparingly in the joint practice and will get the majority of the reps in the game.
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Daniels and the starters will presumably get the most preseason work in Week 2, when the Commanders host the Bengals at Northwest Stadium on Aug. 18. The third preseason game is typically reserved for players still vying for jobs as the starters begin to focus on the regular-season opener.
Standing the sideline together between practice fields during the Commanders' and Patriots' workout: Jayson Tatum, Robert Kraft and Bon Jovi. pic.twitter.com/LlNtqSiK6X
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 6, 2025
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who is recovering from an Achilles' injury, attended Wednesday practice. He spent much of the practice standing next to Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Jon Bon Jovi. At one point in between series, Tatum was spotted chatting up Daniels. Bon Jovi later talked up Maye and Hartman.
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