Tag: 2022 nfl preseason

NFL scouts praise Commanders rookie QB Sam Howell

After an impressive preseason, NFL scouts praise Commanders QB Sam Howell.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2022 NFL draft was North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell falling to the fifth round. Many considered Howell a future top-10 pick one year earlier, but an inconsistent final college season pushed Howell down the board.

For Howell, the inconsistencies he battled during last season at North Carolina weren’t completely his fault. He lost all his top weapons and was forced to run the ball more, yet he finished the year on a strong note.

In a league that selects players, specifically quarterbacks, based on physical tools, Howell still managed to last until the 144th overall pick in an overall weak quarterback draft.

When the Washington Commanders selected Howell, the choice was universally praised around the league. Everyone was shocked Howell landed in the fifth round. However, he landed in a good situation with Washington. Yes, Carson Wentz is the starter. But Wentz is on his third team in three seasons and is no sure thing.

Howell recently played in each of Washington’s three preseason games and stood out. Howell’s arm talent is evident, and his running ability is criminally underrated.

Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports recently spoke to a pair of NFL scouts about Howell after his terrific preseason. It was clear that the scouts believed the Commanders had something in Howell, with one calling him one of the “steals of the draft” with multiple NFL teams believed to have had a second-round grade on Howell.

The second NFL scout offered the following evaluation:

“With his talent, he should have never lasted that long in the draft,” said another NFL scout. “That happens with quarterbacks. You don’t take them high if you don’t need them. But he was also inconsistent [in his final year at North Carolina]. There wasn’t a lot [of talent] around him, but the knock on him was that the tools were there, but he just didn’t look ready.”

Multiple times in the preseason, Howell showed off some big-time traits. Whether it was arm strength and accuracy, his running ability, or going through his progressions and looking off the safety, the Commanders have reasons to be excited.

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Former Iowa running back Tyler Goodson among final cuts for Green Bay Packers

Tyler Goodson might not have made the Packers final 53-man roster, but this shouldn’t be the end of his NFL Journey!

Unfortunately, Tyler Goodson was not among the final 53 players to make the Green Bay Packers, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Former Hawkeyes running back Tyler Goodson went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft before being quickly snatched up as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers.

Goodson performed relatively well for the Packers, rushing 28 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. He also caught eight passes for 60 yards during the preseason.

According to Packers Wire, Goodson was in the running for the third running back spot in Green Bay behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Despite performing pretty well, it was not enough, Packers Wire suggesting Patrick Taylor could be the third back due to his experience on special teams. That of course is until Kylin Hill comes off of the PUP list in four weeks, Hill projected to retain his running back No. 3 duties.

For Goodson, he mostly figures to land back on the Packers practice squad. He may have some suitors, but a year on the practice squad makes a ton of sense for Goodson. There are traits to really like from the young back, his speed and flashes of receiving ability this preseason giving some real intrigue moving forward.

The important thing to remember is that this shouldn’t be the end of the line for Goodson. Time is still on his side. He’s only 21! Keep working on providing more value to teams as a depth piece. His improvement as a receiver is encouraging, and hopefully he can grow into a contributor on special teams. Special teams ability is crucial for those on the chopping block looking to fill up the back end of the roster as is overall versatility.

Hopefully, this is just the first part of a long NFL journey for Goodson.

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The biggest preseason roster cuts for all 32 NFL teams

Which notable veterans need to find new homes now that NFL rosters have been cut down to 53 players?

August 30 is the toughest day on the 2022 NFL calendar. That’s the day all 32 teams have to slice their rosters down from 80 active players to 53.

As a result, some veterans will see their careers come to an unceremonious end while many undrafted free agents will see theirs snuffed out before they could even begin. The league’s pool of available players will overflow, and while some of these talents will find new homes and have the chance to rebuild their careers, others will languish on practice squads or possibly have to turn their attention to jobs that don’t involve smashing into other men on a regular basis.

Hundreds of players will hit the free agency marketplace as September approaches to fill our Sundays with football once more. Here’s a list of some of the most notable players to be served their walking papers in the lead-up to — and on — cut-down day.

Commanders released three defensive players on Monday

The Commanders began making moves Monday ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

All 32 NFL teams have until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon to trim their rosters to 53 players. That means every team must release 27 players between the final preseason game and Tuesday’s deadline.

Some teams began making moves on Monday, including the Washington Commanders.

Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reported that Washington had released veteran safety Steven Parker.

Parker was signed before the first preseason game and played well. Had the Commanders not had young safety depth, Parker could’ve easily made the roster. Parker has spent time with the Rams, Dolphins, Vikings, Cowboys and Giants. His work in the preseason should earn him another look soon.

Next, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reported defensive tackle Tyler Clark was released. The Commanders needed another body at defensive tackle after losing Tim Settle and releasing Matt Ioannidis and signed Clark.

Washington also released undrafted rookie defensive end Jacub Panasiuk. Panasiuk impressed coaches this summer, but the Commanders were likely looking for more experience at defensive end with Chase Young out at least the first four weeks. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Washington signs Panasiuk to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

We’ll keep you posted on all of Washington’s roster moves.

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Five things we learned from Week 3 of the NFL preseason, including Justin Fields’ arrival and Denzel Mims’ trade plea

Justin Fields gives the Bears a beacon of hope. Mac Jones might be in for a rebuilding season.

The NFL’s dress rehearsals are over. Now it’s time for the real thing.

You know, in like 10 days or so.

The final week of the preseason has come and gone, leaving a long gulf of practices and roster moves until the September 8 opener between the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills or the Sunday action that will be the first official step to Super Bowl 57 for 28 teams.

This leaves time for some roster shuffling and depth chart alignment. The NFL cut-down date, where teams trim their preseason rosters down to the 53-man standard, arrives August 30. Teams will wheel and deal their way through third-stringers and special team contributors, but starting lineups are mostly set.

That means what we’ve learned in August will mostly hold true into September. There wasn’t much relevant action on display as teams wrapped up the exhibition season, but we still earned a little insight from joint practices and one last preseason game.

Preseason finale was serious for Reggie Bonnafon and Dax Milne

Dax Milne felt like he’s earned a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

An NFL preseason finale is boring for some and crucial for others.

The last preseason game is often viewed as meaningless because most teams rest the vast majority of their starters, choosing to not risk injury.

Yet, for some players, it is that final preseason game that provides them the largest opportunity they will experience prior to the regular season. Consequently, it means they can feasibly win one of the final roster spots of that team, or perhaps put enough on film that another team will claim them.

Saturday’s Commanders game was momentous for running back Reggie Bonnafon and receiver Dax Milne. Bonnafon is attempting to make the Commanders roster for the first time, after being with the Panthers (2019-21). While Milne is attempting to keep his spot earned last year as a rookie.

Bonnafon was in on 38 offensive snaps (50%), experiencing the thrill of scoring a touchdown on a 13-yard completion from Sam Howell. Reggie also rushed 10 times for 24 yards, and caught 3 passes for 19 yards.

“It was a nice read from Sam (Howell), and he caught me in stride. I turned and headed downfield, and I thought I had the goal line and was surprised they called me out at the one. But thank God for review, and they got the call right. It’s exciting to score.”

Reggie also rushed 10 times for 24 yards, and caught 2 passes for 19 yards. After the game he said he was expecting the workload in the game. “(I’m) not surprised, and I always appreciate it. We knew going into the game that it would basically be me and Jaret (Patterson). Now, we’ll see where the chips fall. It’s a weird time, because you’ve done all you can, and now it’s just a waiting game.”

The game was also urgent for Milne. He was drafted 258th in 2021, catching 9 passes for 83 yards last season. So what guarantee did he possess coming to training camp that he would be on the team for a second year?

“This is something the coaches continue to mention to us – not paying attention to what we’re hearing, just putting our best out on the field at all times. It’s what we put on our resume. Some guys don’t handle it well, but others do. I think I’m handling it OK, and I’m putting enough out there.”

Milne was targeted 4 times, catching all four, gaining 37 yards, including one for 21 yards.

Milne was asked if he feels like he deserves a spot on the team.

“I do. I do.”

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Ron Rivera pleased with Sam Howell’s development through preseason

Ron Rivera was impressed with Sam Howell’s preseason performance.

When North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell fell to the Washington Commanders with the top pick in the fifth round of April’s NFL draft, head coach Ron Rivera couldn’t hide his excitement. Howell was a quarterback the Commanders liked throughout the pre-draft process, but the trade for Carson Wentz meant Washington would not spend a premium pick on a passer.

Howell came to an ideal situation in Washington. There was no pressure to start early in his career, so every preseason snap was critical for Howell. In each of Washington’s three preseason games, Howell showed off his arm and legs.

Howell got the start in Washington’s final preseason game and played the entire game. He completed 24 of 35 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown and led the Commanders with 62 rushing yards.

After the game, Rivera discussed Howell’s performance.

“I thought Sam played well; I thought he did a nice job,” Rivera said.

The best thing about the preseason is situational football. While the games aren’t official in the standings, the specific situations are critical in the development of young players. One example of situational football is the two-minute drill, something Howell faced in each of his three games.

Rivera came away impressed.

“It was very important for us to really get a chance to evaluate the young quarterback,” Rivera said. “He has a very bright future in this league. He has a lot of growing to do. I know [OC] Scott [Turner] and [QB coach] Ken [Zampese] will go through this with a fine-tooth comb and emphasize the things that he could have done better. He was exciting to watch, he made some really good decisions, and he made some decisions that could have been better. He did a nice job.”

Sure, the Commanders didn’t win a preseason game, but their rookie quarterback played almost eight full quarters of live football. That type of experience is invaluable to a young quarterback.

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Commanders Jamin Davis ‘played with a lot of energy’

Jamin Davis finished the preseason on a strong note.

Jamin Davis got a surprise Saturday.

The second-year linebacker out of Kentucky was told he would be one of the many Washington Commanders sitting out the preseason finale in Baltimore. However, after coaches did their number-crunching, Davis was then later informed he would indeed be playing against the Ravens.

Head coach Ron Rivera pointed out the he liked the way Davis played Saturday night. “It was great to see Jamin running around early on. He played with a lot of energy.”

Davis was in on 7 defensive snaps (18%) but he still felt there was some benefit to getting in those seven reps.  “Of course. I mean, any opportunity you get to go out there and make plays and you make the most of it.”

Davis made an aggressive pursuing tackle on a wide running play and was asked about it post game. “That’s me just trying to play fast and not do all the extra things. Just playing ball at the end of the day.”

He was asked about being told he would not play, then later being told he would play after all. “I mean, regardless what the situation was, you prepare like you’re going to play at the end of the day. So, when they told me, ‘You’re going to go out there and play.’ I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ ”

Davis is well aware of his disappointing rookie season and the disappointing 2021 season for the defense. He believes things are going better thus far in 2022. “Pretty comfortable. Just trying to go out there to play fast. Not even just the linebacker room; the whole defense as a whole. Getting off the field on third down, trying to get all of us to the ball. Just doing what we are doing. Playing to our standards at the end of the day.”

Davis feels he has made a stride and was asked what was the biggest forward step he has made this summer. “Just playing a lot faster. Honestly, that was the main focus for me. Just trying to eliminate the extra thinking.”

Many, including Davis are hoping he indeed has made great strides going into the 2022 regular season. If he has, it could be a big boost to the Commanders’ defense.

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Ron Rivera offers some good news regarding the tight end position

Ron Rivera expects John Bates will return to practice this week. That’s more good news for Washington’s tight ends.

It’s been a difficult summer for the Washington Commanders’ tight ends. The Commanders have been shorthanded at tight end throughout training camp, but the injuries also opened the door for some younger, unknown players.

When training camp began, starter Logan Thomas was rehabbing from a torn ACL and began training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Top backup John Bates missed most of training camp with a calf injury, returning briefly before going back out again. And rookie fifth-round pick Cole Turner was the talk of camp in their absence until he suffered a hamstring injury, missing all of Washington’s preseason games.

That opened the door for a pair of undrafted rookies in Armani Rogers and Curtis Hodges. Unfortunately for Hodges, he also missed time with an injury.

After Washington’s preseason loss to the Ravens on Saturday, head coach Ron Rivera offered some good news regarding Washington’s tight ends.

This would be excellent news for the Commanders. Thomas was activated from the PUP list last week, and for the first time, Washington could have both of its top two tight ends on the practice field together. In addition, Turner should be close to a return after it was initially expected to be a two-week injury.

As of now, expect Washington to keep four tight ends. Thomas, Bates and Turner are locks. Rogers is essentially a lock. The former college quarterback has terrific size and athleticism and looks like a natural at the position. That would give the Commanders a strong and diverse group.

It’s been a tough summer for Washington’s tight ends, but brighter days are ahead as the Commanders begin the regular season.

 

 

PHOTOS: The top images from the Commanders’ preseason finale vs. Ravens

Check out some of the top images from the Commanders’ preseason finale vs. the Ravens.

The Washington Commanders completed the preseason on Saturday with a 17-15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Washington sat most of its starters for Saturday’s finale, and rookie quarterback Sam Howell started and played the entire game. Howell played well, completing 24 of 35 passes for 280 yards and rushed for 62 yards.

Outside of Howell, other players battling for roster spots, such as wide receivers Dax Milne and Alex Erickson, had strong performances in their bids to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

The Commanders finished the preseason with a record of 0-3 and now look ahead to Week 1 of the regular season when the Jacksonville Jaguars come to FedEx Field.

Here are some of the top images from Washington’s preseason finale against Baltimore.