Cutdown day looms as Commanders open final week of training camp

ASHBURN — The Washington Commanders returned to the practice field on Wednesday with less than a week before the NFL’s most dreaded occasion: cutdown day. But coach Dan Quinn said players shouldn’t place too much importance on the final week of training camp.

“This may sound unusual, but we’re really looking for consistency,” Quinn said Wednesday. “Sometimes, when a person is in this spot, they can press. ‘I really want to show out.’ Being tighter doesn’t allow you to play better; it can just make you more anxious about the play.”

Keeping a cool head before the final preseason game is easier for some players than others.

“Some may know, ‘Hey, I’m not going to play a lot in this game,’” the coach said, noting that starters often skip the final preseason game.  “Others may know, ‘This is my real chance to go do my thing and show this organization one last time what I’m about.’ It’s tricky.”

The preseason finale is crucial for players like safety Tyler Owens. The undrafted free agent is inching toward a roster spot after an impressive preseason.

“I’ve been really proud of the effort that he’s put forth,” Quinn said of Owens. “When we’re really saying, ‘Hey, we’re looking for competitive plays, looking for guys that were absolutely going for it.’ It was cool to see him absolutely empty the tank, both defensively and on special teams.”

As cutdown day approaches, Owens said he is starting to think about what it would be like to make the final roster.

“It would be pretty nice, I’m not gonna lie,” the Texas Tech product said. “I approach [the preseason finale] the same way I approach every opportunity I get. Just go hard every time and hope for the best.”

Owens will have to continue flashing his competitive spirit to survive next week’s cutdown. Quinn declared Wednesday’s practice “Competition Wednesday,” as he emphasized on-field contests.

“It can help you lock in, where you don’t have to worry about the game; just lock into today,” he said. “The competing part, really, is us going against each other to sharpen our skills.”

That competition is key for the wide receiver room, where 13 players are fighting for a handful of spots on the final roster. But veteran wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, a likely lock for the starting rotation, doesn’t see it as a competition.

“I’m confident in what I can do, and at the same time, I want to help these guys as well. I know I add value, knowledge and a different point of view,” the Virginia product said. “Everybody else has their own perspective as well. It’s more just cultivating things and helping everybody elevate their game.”

Zaccheaus emerged as a favorite target of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels throughout training camp. Other preseason standouts at the position included 2022 third-round pick Dyami Brown and Brycen Tremayne, who spent the 2023 season on Washington’s practice squad.

For young players like Owens and Tremayne, their special teams prowess could be the difference between a spot on the roster, a practice squad role or clearing out their locker.

“I think [special teams] is one of the biggest things, especially for an undrafted guy like me,” Tremayne said last week. “Special teams are your way to a roster spot; it’s your way into the offense.”

Tremayne has played with the punt coverage, punt return, kickoff coverage and kickoff return teams during preseason. Owens has worked with each of those units and the field goal block team.

“I’m willing to play any position; just be useful in any way I can,” Owens said.

The Commanders have two more days of practice before Sunday’s preseason finale at home against the Patriots.

“I actually do enjoy this week. It’s a tricky one because emotions are at different spaces. And it’s one of the more challenging ones as a coach. …” Quinn said. “But I also love it, because as you go through the hard moments, you really find out who’s about it.”