The Washington Commanders are on the road for Week 2 of the preseason with a trip to Kansas City to play the high-flying Chiefs. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said the Chiefs could play the entire first half, meaning the Commanders’ defense will get a good look at Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Meanwhile, Washington coach Ron Rivera said he’d “ideally” like to play his starters for a half; however, injuries could make that impossible. The Commanders have injuries to their top four tight ends and top three guards. Most of the injuries aren’t serious and are of the soft-tissue variety, but the injuries have created a lot of shuffling for Washington recently.
For several young players, the injuries create opportunities. Here are six Commanders to watch vs. Kansas City on Saturday.
QB Sam Howell
Starting quarterback Carson Wentz is a player to watch, but there’s a chance he doesn’t play too deep into the game due to the current state of Washington’s offensive line. Taylor Heinicke will play, and rookie Sam Howell should see most of the action.
Howell was terrific in his NFL debut last week, showing off his big-time arm and athleticism. He almost led Washington to a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter before the defense allowed a game-winning field goal. Can Howell build off his debut performance last week?
Washington fans are excited to see Howell’s encore.
RB Brian Robinson Jr.
Rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. entered last week’s game after Antonio Gibson’s fumble and looked the part of a starting running back. Robinson dominated an entire drive, where he also showed off his ability as a receiver.
It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Scott Turner splits running back reps between Gibson and Robinson. Jaret Patterson should also figure into the mix with Jonathan Williams. J.D. McKissic doesn’t need to play.
TE Armani Rogers
Rookie tight end Armani Rogers earned several looks from Wentz early in last week’s game. With Logan Thomas still recovering from knee surgery, John Bates and Cole Turner out with calf and hamstring injuries, respectively, Rogers and fellow undrafted rookie Curtis Hodges will see plenty of time again. It’s a big opportunity for both if the Commanders keep four tight ends, which seems likely at this point.
Rogers is a former quarterback with a compelling combination of size and speed. He’s worth developing and displayed his potential throughout the summer. The games are big for him — and Hodges.
G Chris Paul
Yet another rookie to watch for the Commanders. With all of the injuries at guard, a significant opportunity exists for Chris Paul. Paul played a lot last week and impressed Washington’s coaches. We’ve had Paul making the roster in each version of our roster projections. Paul can further solidify his spot with another strong performance against the Chiefs. It’s likely he starts or plays significant snaps on Saturday.
LB Jamin Davis
Second-year linebacker Jamin Davis has been the talk of Washington’s training camp over the past week. Davis performed well in his 18 snaps against the Panthers last week. His coaches and teammates have praised Davis’ growth throughout the offseason and into training camp. Washington fans should pay close attention to Davis on Saturday.
CB Christian Holmes
Christian Holmes, like Paul, is a rookie seventh-round pick. Holmes had a terrific offseason but has been overshadowed a bit during training camp by Corn Elder. The Commanders will likely keep five corners with Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, William Jackson III and likely Danny Johnson locked in.
Elder and Holmes are battling for that No. 5 spot. Elder likely has the advantage, but coaches have praised Holmes. He needs a strong performance in one of Washington’s preseason games to land on the 53-man roster instead of the practice squad.
