It’s been an enthralling training camp for the Washington Commanders so far. Dan Quinn and his coaching staff are ramping things up with their players, and the competitive fire is growing. Padded practices turned things up considerably, which is all part of the assessment phase before some difficult decisions are due.
The Commanders have massive expectations to meet this season. They are no longer a trendy upstart pick. They are a genuine Super Bowl challenger after general manager Adam Peters made some ultra-aggressive moves throughout his second recruitment period at the helm.
This is nothing the Commanders weren’t expecting. The NFL has pushed them to the forefront with eight standalone games in 2025, five of which are on primetime. National attention is growing exponentially, which makes them a target that other teams will be looking to topple.
Looking at the mentality being displayed, the Commanders are ready to meet their upcoming challenges head-on. There is a sensational resolve in the locker room as everyone works towards one common goal. And training camp has also thrown up a few nice surprises for good measure.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players who are defying expectations at training camp.
Commanders players who are defying expectations at training camp
Tyler Owens – Commanders S
The Washington Commanders saw something others didn’t in Tyler Owens last year. He was quickly scooped up in undrafted free agency, and the decent guarantee on his rookie contract suggested that those in power had high hopes. They were rewarded accordingly.
Owens surged to a deserved roster spot against all odds. The explosive safety got hurt early on, which dented his momentum. He did return during the campaign, but the Commanders brought him along gradually as a special-teams asset.
Washington’s decision-makers never lost faith in Owens. They are convinced he’s got the physical tools to make an impact on the defensive rotation once he becomes fully acclimatized. And looking at his improved comfort level at training camp, he’s been working extremely hard to achieve this objective.
This relentless commitment is paying off. Owens has been getting plenty of reps with the first-string defense, both as a safety and even as a nickel cornerback. The athleticism and physicality are key traits Dan Quinn looks for in his defensive backs, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Texas Tech product become more involved if the same trend continues.
Playing time is at a premium in the safety room. However, the versatility Owens brings to the table is something working in his favor.
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