Training camp notebook | Jayden Daniels focuses on footwork, pocket presence

— We’ll start with the offensive line. Although this is subject to change for the rest of camp, the starting group looked like this from left to right: Laremy Tunsil, Brandon Coleman, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti and Andrew Wylie. That was the expected setup heading into camp, but players like Nate Herbig could push for the right guard spot while Cosmi recovers. Josh Conerly worked in with the second unit, which was also expected.

— Speaking of Cosmi, head coach Dan Quinn said there was a possibility for the guard to be back in action for Week 1, which would be a quick turnaround for a player who tore his ACL in January. Cosmi had an excellent offseason, Quinn said Tuesday, and he has hit all his markers. Cosmi is currently on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, which means he can return to action at any time. Had he been placed on the Reserve/PUP list, he would have been required to miss the first four games.

— Daniels started training camp with a bang. He aired out a shot to new wide receiver Deebo Samuel with tight coverage from Tyler Owens, and Samuel made the catch with ease over his shoulder for the touchdown. Daniels and Samuel have been working on their chemistry all summer, and clearly that work has paid off.

— Here’s something of note to keep an eye on: Owens got work with the starting defense and was lined up at nickel. Owens was primarily a special teams player last season, but the staff loves him and is high on his future.

— A star always emerges in training camp, and Ja’Corey Brooks is a contender for that moniker. Brooks made two touchdown catches during 7-on-7 drills — one from Daniels and Mariota each. Brooks, a Louisville product from Florida, also had a solid OTA performance. There’s a long way to go before the final roster cuts are made, but Brooks certainly got off to a good start in that race.

— The Commanders are suddenly deep when it comes to their front seven, thanks in part to Von Miller joining the team, and that means they can get creative with their personnel. One grouping during red zone situational drills featured Frankie Luvu and Miller as pass-rushers with Dorance Armstrong and Daron Payne as interior players. Who knows how much they will use that combination of players, but it could be a fun front for fans and potent for opponents.

— Finally, let’s wrap things up with a few standalone plays that stood out throughout the morning. Jacory Croskey-Merritt had a touchdown run during team drills and had a nice juke on Ben Nikkel in the open field. Noah Igbinoghene forced an incompletion with tight coverage on Jaylin Lane, who otherwise had a solid day. Jeremy Reaves broke up a pass intended for Ben Sinnott. And Javon Kinlaw had a nasty bull rush against Coleman.


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