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Can we learn something about the Commanders from one post-practice workout involving a veteran receiver and a young defensive back?
After the Washington Commanders finished practice Wednesday, veteran receiver Deebo Samuel and second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil kept working out together in a moment that encapsulated the state of the team.
Samuel, who’s entering his seventh season, ran about a dozen routes to show the young corner how receivers could use different release techniques at the line of scrimmage to create separation against him.
One big focus was refining how to stick to receivers who use an outside release to set up an inside route. Sainristil has seen such moves before, of course, but he wanted to see them again and again so his reactions would become automatic.
The moment was a metaphor. The team is Sainristil, a young upstart with lots of promise, and it wants to be Samuel, a proven winner and consistent presence in the biggest playoff games.
“You would’ve thought he’s been here the past five years of his career the way he’s adjusted,” Sainristil said of Samuel. “He’s a guy that loves extra work, loves football, loves to win. So, any way I can pick his brain about what receivers do to help myself, I’m going to do exactly that.”
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
Another week of OTAs is in the books for the Washington Commanders, and there were once again a few players who had solid performances during the team’s practice that was viewed by media members on Wednesday. Here are three players who caught our eye.
Brown said when he was re-signed that he felt healthy and ready to go for his second season with the Commanders. The veteran wideout looked healthy last week, and he followed it up this week with one of the most impressive catches of the day.
After starting practice with special teams drills, the offensive and defensive skill players broke away to do some seven-on-seven work near the goal line. After getting three completions in his first series, Jayden Daniels started his second set of plays by targeting Brown in the back of the end zone. The pass required Brown to extend his arms a bit more than normal, but he did come down with the grab and maintained possession despite brushing against the goal post on his way to the ground.
Brown, who the team signed after training camp last year, was on his way to a career performance before suffering a kidney injury against the Tennessee Titans....
