Tag: OTAs

Todd Bowles isn’t worried about Tristan Wirfs’ absence from OTAs

Tristan Wirfs isn’t attending voluntary offseason workouts amid contract talks, but his head coach isn’t concerned

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off their first round of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week, and there was massive name missing from the attendance sheet.

All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs was not present for the voluntary workouts, as he continues to pursue a long-term contract extension with the Bucs that will no doubt make him the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL.

Despite his absence, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles says he’s been in constant contact with Wirfs, and he’s not worried about it.

“I’m aware that it’s voluntary,” Bowles said earlier this week. “Me and Tristan had a conversation – plenty of conversations. He’s still working out and he’s been here all offseason, so I’m comfortable with that.”

The Bucs just locked up All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. with a long-term contract extension last week, so it’s likely they can now shift their energies fully to making the same thing happen for Wirfs. His absence from OTAs clearly isn’t a concern for the team, and it’s just a matter of when his new mega-deal comes down, not if.

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ESPN’s Seifert: Sam Darnold has ‘supporters’ from within the Vikings to remain starter

When the Vikings signed Sam Darnold, people expected him to be a bridge quarterback. Could he do enough to keep the job for all of 2024?

When the Minnesota Vikings signed Sam Darnold, people expected him to be a bridge quarterback. Could he do enough to keep the job for all of 2024? Yes, the team drafted J.J. McCarthy but this coaching staff and front office has shown they can be patient.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN wrote this week that the veteran quarterback has “supporters within the building.”

“McCarthy is obviously the Vikings’ QB of the future, but they signed veteran Sam Darnold prior to the draft with the hope of avoiding a rushed ascension of a rookie into the starting role. Darnold has genuine supporters within the building, starting with coach Kevin O’Connell, and there is real hope that he can play credibly enough to avoid the typical pressure to play McCarthy before he is ready. It’s a matter of when, not if, McCarthy becomes the starter, but the Vikings hope Darnold can extend the “when” for as long as McCarthy needs him to.”

This is not an indictment of what they think McCarthy is or can be. In fact, this is a glowing endorsement of how they see the entire roster. Them sticking with Darnold shows they believe the roster can do enough to keep him playing well enough to win games or at least stay in them.

The longer they can hold off on McCarthy taking over, the better development he can get from this coaching staff. Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, and Wes Phillips will all be in his ear with lots to process.

Growing pains will be expected, but the end results could be great.

Marcus Mariota discusses what attracted him to the Commanders

Marcus Mariota discussed Kingsbury’s offense and why he came to Washington.

Marcus Mariota is now training for his fifth NFL team.

Mariota, the second overall selection of the 2015 NFL draft, spoke with the media, Wednesday after the Commanders OTA workout.

Immediately, he was asked not about himself but Jayden Daniels, the second overall selection of the 2024 NFL Draft. “He looks good,” began Mariota. “I think he really moves well and throws the ball well. For a young guy that comes in, he seems to really like to command the offense, and I think that is really important.”

I think it is important to stand in front of these guys, especially older players, nail it, and say, “I got this, I got it figured out,” added Mariota.

He transitioned to saying that it is important for each quarterback to be competitive, which will strengthen the quarterback room as a unit.

Mariota worked under Brian Johnson in 2023, then on the Eagles staff. “Oh, he is awesome,” said the former Oregon Duck quarterback. He had spoken of checking his ego at the door years ago.

When asked about it in a follow-up, Mariota replied, “I think this game humbles you. I was humbled very early on in my career in Tennessee (Titans).

“I love ball; I love being around it. So, regardless of what my situation entails, I put a smile on my face, and I just love coming to work.”

Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is known for running the “Air Raid” offense in the past. However, Mariota, when asked about the offense, quickly denied the label. “I don’t think you can put labels on it. I think that is a beautiful thing. I wouldn’t want to limit what it looks like.”

Many have voiced things are upbeat in Ashburn this offseason. “There’s a lot of factors that led to me coming here,” explained Mariota. “To be part of a new regime, a new owner, a new staff, new players. It’s a great opportunity to set the trajectory for a franchise. That opportunity itself was something I was excited to be a part of.”

Whether it be the Titans, Raiders, Falcons, Eagles, or now Commanders. Mariota seems to understand you only get so many opportunities in the NFL, and he really seems to want to enjoy this one, and make the most of it.

 

Commanders LB Bobby Wagner talks the most difficult aspect of living on the East Coast

Bobby Wagner talks the most difficult thing for him since moving to the East Coast.

New Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner turns 34 in June. Before he signed with Washington in March, he had lived on the West Coast his entire life. Wagner grew up in California, played college football at Utah State, and played for the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams in the NFL.

So when Wagner signed with the Commanders, familiarity helped. Wagner is close to head coach Dan Quinn and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. Both have served as Wagner’s defensive coordinator during his time in Seattle, so they were the biggest factor in him choosing Washington.

The offseason program began last month, and Wagner officially moved to Virginia. Obviously, the time change would be the most difficult aspect of Wagner’s move.

While the time change has taken some getting used to, Wagner explained the most significant change he’s experienced.

“You know that the biggest challenge of being on the East Coast is trying to watch a basketball game,” Wagner said. “It’s like the game that I wanna watch comes on at 10:30, comes off at 12:30, and then practice, I gotta be up at 6:45 or whatever it is. That’s been the hardest part. Luckily, the Lakers are not playing, so I’m cool.”

The good news for Wagner is that the NBA Playoffs are in the conference championships. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round weeks ago, so hopefully, Wagner can get some rest over the next few months.

What has impressed Commanders DT Jonathan Allen the most about Jayden Daniels?

Allen is already impressed with Jayden Daniels.

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen met with the media after Wednesday’s OTAs and sounded like a completely different player.

Throughout the second half of last season, every time Allen spoke after a game, you wondered if he was about to break. After a loss to the New York Giants, Allen did let loose. Cooler heads prevailed, as Allen was emotional after another tough loss. Allen even said he contemplated what it would be like on another team.

But Allen never said he wanted out. In February, at a media event, Allen was already coming around on general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

Allen praised Peters, Quinn, and the coaching staff on Wednesday.

“I’m just so happy; I love the coaching staff, I love the direction we’re moving in, I love the way we’re working, man, it has truly been reinvigorating,” Allen said. “Just so fun to come to work every day. This is literally just a dream job right now.”

Allen is a respected leader, so having him on board is a win for Peters and Quinn.

So, what does Allen think of his new quarterback, Jayden Daniels?

“He’s cool, man, he’s a quiet guy,” Allen said. “He comes in, he works, and I pride myself on being one of the first guys here and he always beats me here. So, I think that’s pretty cool. Stays late, you know, he does everything you want out of your No. 2 overall pick rookie quarterback. I’m excited to see him work, I’m excited to see him play and just focus on what I gotta do to make his life as easy as possible.”

When someone like Allen praises you for your commitment before you begin training camp, that’s a win for Daniels. It’s easy to see why the franchise believes they have something special in the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn had some interesting comments on Emmanuel Forbes

What did Dan Quinn mean when discussing Emmauel Forbes?

Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes had a rookie season to forget in 2023. Forbes didn’t play well, but the entire team was a mess last season.

The Washington secondary took significant steps backward when former coach Chris Harris left for another job. Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio replaced him with a coach who was coaching high school before coming to Washington.

The good news is the former coaching staff is gone. Even better news is the Commanders hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach. Quinn brought his secondary coach from Dallas, Joe Whitt Jr., to serve as his defensive coordinator. Quinn and Whitt have done outstanding work with multiple defensive backs.

Last week, Forbes said he was excited for a fresh start.

Before Wednesday’s OTA practice, Quinn met with the media and was asked about Forbes. Here’s what he said:

“We’re trying to find out what unique things a player has,” he said in response to a question about Forbes, who has been returning punts early in OTAs.

What does this mean? Is the coaching staff already concerned with Forbes? While no one in charge was responsible for drafting him 16th overall only one year ago, moving on from a second-year player would be difficult. So, does Quinn’s comments mean, “We can’t cut him, so we need to find something he does well?”

ESPN’s John Keim said in a recent edition of his podcast he didn’t believe Forbes would open the season as a starting cornerback.

Maybe the coaching staff watched Forbes return interceptions for touchdowns in college and thought he could give them some juice as a punt returner. It would make sense.

The comments were interesting. Maybe they mean nothing. Before anyone counts out Forbes, Quinn has maintained there is competition everywhere. That would include cornerback. If Forbes proves he’s one of the top cornerbacks, he will start.

Forbes has the rest of OTAs, minicamp and training camp to prove he has improved under the new coaching staff. Washington needs Forbes. While the Commanders signed multiple cornerbacks in free agency, none of them are really considered a No. 1 or No. 2 cornerback. Remember, fellow cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is also coming off a tough season.

Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes comment on Chiefs’ unique 2024 schedule

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes commented on the #Chiefs’ unique 2024 schedule during a press conference at OTAs on Wednesday. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs schedule release had many critics wondering how the two-time defending Super Bowl champions can achieve the infamous three-peat. Kansas City is expected to play six days out of the week, with Tuesday being the only game-free day.

On the last day of the first week of organized team activities, the Chiefs opened their practice to the media and addressed the first session along with other topics, including the new schedule.

“It’s the first time in my career that it’s that unique (schedule). So you know how we are. I mean, we don’t really care,” said Reid. “They could give us a Tuesday game. If they want, we’ll be okay there too. We’ll work through it and we’ll play anybody anywhere, whatever. Whatever they want to do, we’re on board.”

Patrick Mahomes shared his thoughts on the new schedule, also taking the high road and using it as fuel to test the team’s unity throughout the year.

“[I] feel like our schedule has gotten crazier and crazier every single year,” Mahomes explained. “It’s just about preparing for the week ahead of you. We know that we’re going to have a lot of primetime games, and we’ve built up the equity to be in those games. Now it’s about how can we find a way to be better than last year at the end of the season.

“We learn from our mistakes from last year, trying to motivate ourselves to get ourselves healthier and faster, and then go out there and win those games because there are a lot of great football teams we play at the end there. I’m trying to be better on Christmas.”

The Chiefs will notably return to play on Christmas Day as the first-ever Netflix-only game. They will be on the road this time to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers as they seek to even their record on that day following last year’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Commanders DT Jonathan Allen: ‘This is a dream job’

Allen is excited about the present and future.

The 2023 NFL season was one to forget for Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. The two-time Pro Bowler battled injuries all season and saw his numbers drop.

But numbers never mattered to Allen. Winning is the only thing that matters, and the Commanders won just four games, losing their final eight to finish a forgettable season. Allen made it clear he was not happy.

Allen isn’t one to point fingers. He didn’t blame teammates or coaches. He knew there were issues and even admitted he contemplated leaving his hometown after seven seasons. Allen’s NSFW rant after a loss to the Giants summed up another lost season in Washington.

When he talked after the season, he said he needed some time away to ponder his future. In an event with the local media in February, Allen appeared refreshed and happy under Washington’s new regime, led by general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

After Wednesday’s Organized Training Activity (OTAs), Allen spoke to the media and expressed his praise for the organization’s positive changes.

“I’m just so happy; I love the coaching staff, I love the direction we’re moving in, I love the way we’re working, man, it has truly been reinvigorating,” Allen said. “Just so fun to come to work every day. This is literally just a dream job right now.”

Allen acknowledged he was emotional and needed to get away after the season. But when he met with Peters and Quinn, everything was suddenly better, and he was excited about the present and future.

Here’s Allen’s interview after Wednesday’s practice:

 

 

WATCH: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels throws a dime to Jahan Dotson at OTAs

Daniels with a perfect throw to Dotson.

The Washington Commanders are back on the practice fields in Ashburn this week for the second week of Organized Training Activities. That meant the second week for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to work with the veterans on the roster.

On Wednesday, Daniels went back to work and appears to have already developed a nice connection with wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Check out this throw from Wednesday’s action.

It doesn’t get much better than that throw. The defensive back had excellent coverage on Dotson, and Daniels dropped it over his shoulder into Dotson’s hands away from the sideline.

That clip will surely have fans excited, and for good reason. Dotson, a 2022 first-round pick, took a step back last season. Like last year, Dotson will be a popular pick to be a breakout player in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. That didn’t happen last year, but things are very different in 2024.

Just last week, Dotson said how excited he was to work with Daniels and how he was the quarterback he wanted all along.

WATCH: Carson Wentz takes the field at OTAs donning No. 11 jersey

Carson Wentz was spotted wearing his No. 11 jersey during workouts at #Chiefs OTAs on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have had some outstanding players wearing the No. 11 jersey over the years.

Most notably, quarterback Alex Smith wore No. 11 for Kansas City from 2013 through 2017, helping to lift the Chiefs back to relevance in Andy Reid’s first years as the team’s head coach.

When Smith left Western Missouri to start his tenure with the Washington Football Team in 2018, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson took over the number before Marquez Valdes-Scantling arrived in Kansas City in 2022.

Now, backup quarterback Carson Wentz is donning the No. 11 jersey with pride and was spotted wearing his Chiefs uniform for the first time at Kansas City’s organized team activities on Wednesday.

While Wentz isn’t likely to see consistent action for the Chiefs in the 2024 regular season, the legacy of the number will live on with him in the preseason and on the sideline as he seeks to become Kansas City’s next great second-stringer.