The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
We're less than a week away from the Washington Commanders having to make their decisions on the initial 53-man roster. Several of the team's biggest names like Terry McLaurin, Jayden Daniels and Bobby Wagner have stood out, but other less known players have been trying to make a case to stick around for the regular season as well.
For those players, the next six days are going to be some of the most important of their careers. Unlike McLaurin, Daniels and several others, their status on the roster past Aug. 27 is not a guarantee, meaning they will need to make the most of their snaps in practice and the preseason finale against the New England Patriots to convince the coaches and general manager Adam Peters that they are worthy of a spot.
Some players already have an advantage, but they will need to continue having a strong camp to stay ahead of the competition. Here are four training camp "Cinderellas" who have stood out over the past three weeks.
Brycen Tremayne
Tremayne has made a habit of coming up with explosive plays downfield in practice dating all the way back to OTAs. His size (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) offers a bigger target for Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota than the other receivers on the roster, most of whom have a smaller frame.
"Going back to college, to high school, it's my mindset. Maybe it's through my family that hard work will bring good things. So, I just try to bring that every day. If it works out, it works out. And it doesn't, then I worked as hard as I could."
Tremayne, an undrafted free agent last season, flashed a few times during his first camp, but those moments have been more consistent in Year 2. In the first week of camp, he had a fourth-down reception during two-minute drills. In the joint practice with the Jets, he had back-to-back deep receptions during one-on-one drills.
In the preseason games, Tremayne got fewer snaps but made the most of his opportunities. He caught a 16-yard pass against the Jets and a five-yard reception against the Dolphins.
Most of the receiver position is set, but there are perhaps one or two spots available for Tremayne to claim as his own. It will take another solid week of practice but based on how he has played since the start of camp, he's capable of accomplishing that goal.
Tyler Owens
Owens isn't necessarily a player who had a lot of flashy moments; he's one of those players you really need to look for to appreciate how well he's performed over the past month.
Most of Owens' value comes on special teams, where he's operated as a gunner on punt coverage. He's shown an impressive ability to get past his blockers to make plays, which is exactly what he did against the Jets, when he took down returner Malachi Corley for no gain. He finished that game with three tackles, all of which were solo stops.
Against the Dolphins, Owens had an impressive series in the third quarter that featured him making two tackles, one of which was for a two-yard loss at the Commanders' 10-yard line. His best moment, however, came on the previous play, when he hawked down Chris Brooks on a 59-yard run that likely prevented a touchdown.
Owens still has work to do to make the roster, but his drive and special teams ability give him a shot to make it.
Michael Wiley
Wiley had a solid college career at Arizona, putting up 1,712 yards and 12 touchdowns in five seasons. Wiley hasn't had as many opportunities to show off his skill set in preseason games, but the flashes we have seen hint at what he could be in the NFL.
Against the Jets, Wiley led the Commanders with 34 yards on eight carries, including a 15-yard run on third-and-3 in the fourth quarter. He also scored the one-yard touchdown with 12 minutes left that put Washington ahead, 17-10.
Wiley had an 11-yard run the following week in Miami but showed more as a pass-catcher. He and Trace McSorley connected on a 23-yard reception with 29 seconds left in the fourth quarter that put Washington's offense at the Dolphins' 11-yard line and in position to score a game-tying touchdown.
The competition at the bottom of the running back room is one of the most interesting on the roster. Wiley should have plenty of opportunities to earn a spot this weekend against the Patriots.
Jeff Driskel
We don't know whether Washington is going to keep three quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster, but if they do, Driskel has been making a solid case for himself.
Driskel has received more preseason snaps in the absence of Sam Hartman, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury. Through two games, he has led the team with 165 yards while completing 68% of his passes.
Driskel has also looked impressive as a runner on certain plays. He had a 16-yard run against the Jets that turned a first-and-18 into a second-and-2 and helped put together a 13-play drive. On his first play against the Dolphins, he ripped through the middle of the Miami unit for 41 yards, which ended up being the second longest play of the night by either team.
It will come down to whether the Commanders see the value in adding a third quarterback to the initial roster instead of adding more depth to another position. And while Driskel hasn't looked perfect, he's had several impressive moments in game scenarios that could earn him a closer look.
