Second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton has been on a gradual recovery process since being activated from the Non-football Injury list ahead of training camp. The Washington Commanders limited him to individual drills for the first week of camp, electing to put the second-round pick on an abbreviated ramp-up period to get him back in shape after missing essentially all of the offseason workout program because of surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his foot.

Newton still isn't 100%, but he took another step on Tuesday by participating in 11-on-11 drills for the first time.

"It felt really good to be out there," Newton said after practice. "I've been watching since OTAs, minicamp, so it felt good to get back out there with the guys, family. They've been giving me great support. Everybody in the locker room, everybody in the building really. So, just to get out there and compete, it felt really good to get off."

Newton, the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has been dealing with foot injuries since the draft process began. He did not participate in the Scouting Combine in February because of a Jones fracture in his right foot. After getting by the Commanders at No. 36, a doctor's visit revealed that Newton had a Jones fracture in his left foot.

Newton said he didn't notice anything wrong with his left foot and was "shocked" to learn that he would need a second surgery.

"It kind of upset me, but I really didn't let it get to me that much. I was like, 'Man, if we go do it, let's just do it now.' So, we got it out the way immediately."

Since Newton had just wrapped up recovering from his first Jones fracture, he already knew the best way to attack the rehab process. So, it didn't take long for his foot to feel normal. But the team wanted to exercise caution in bringing him back to practice, which meant that he needed to wait for his professional debut.

Newton gets the approach -- "Rome wasn't built overnight," he said -- but it was still difficult for him to sit out.

"I knew what I had to do, get the mental reps in," Newton said. "Everybody in the building was always encouraging me."

Jonathan Allen, Newton's locker mate, has become one of the defensive tackle's biggest supporters. The two-time Pro Bowler would give him words of encouragement throughout the process -- a small action that Newton appreciated.

"I look up to Jon. He is like a big brother to me, and what he's done on the field, excellent," Newton said. "We all know that, like I said, I grew up watching Jon, so hearing things from him consistently every day it was always encouraging to me."

Newton looked solid during the 11-on-11 snaps he received, showing off the quickness and burst that made him one of the best defensive tackles in the draft. However, like everything surrounding his recovery process, his introduction was gradual, as he was limited to reps with the third group of defensive linemen.

Still, the team is thrilled with his progress.

"We're really excited to get him start working back into the team aspect of it, and they're going to be excited to see him. He's a really good player," Quinn said.

And while Newton wants to get on the field at full speed, he's being realistic about his goals.

"I'm not expecting to get back to 100 percent, first day of practice. Just getting my feet. Honestly, this is my first NFL practice, getting up to speed and hopefully, eventually for sure soon I'll be back to 100 percent and back to my old self."

Here are some other observations from Tuesday's practice.

-- The Commanders were pushing the ball downfield more often today, which Jahan Dotson said after practice is what the offense is designed to do. One of the best examples of that came from Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin, who made a catch of about 40 yards after beating Emmanuel Forbes Jr. on the play. This followed an even deeper shot from Daniels that ultimately didn't hit its intended target but showed off Daniels' arm strength.

-- Speaking of McLaurin, the Pro Bowl wide receiver is as smooth as ever. After making another catch, he made a few defenders miss near the sideline before getting a first down.

-- The bottom of the running back room is a competitive bunch with players like Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Austin Jones getting snaps. Another player, veteran Jeremy McNichols, has routinely stood out when given the ball with the third team. He can lay a hit when necessary, but he also has some shiftiness to him that makes defenders miss in running lanes. McNichols has experience, a skill set that is complimented by the offense and seen action catching kicks. All three could play a role in him getting a leg up as the third running back on the depth chart.

-- It seems like we're starting to get some solidity on the offensive line. Brandon Coleman got the starting reps at left tackle for the fourth consecutive day. Nick Allegretti was back with the starting group in 11-on-11 drills, and Wylie continued to improve from the tightness that limited him on Sunday. The preseason will still be the most significant barometer, but the Commanders might be closer to answering one of their biggest questions.

-- Receiver is another position that features heavy competition at the bottom of the depth chart. One player who has consistently turned heads is Brycen Tremayne, an undrafted free agent from a year ago. He had two explosive plays near the end of practice, one of which came on fourth down during two-minutes drills. If Tremayne can continue that production during the preseason, it could help him secure a spot as either the fifth or sixth receiver.

-- Although the competition at quarterback continues, it looks like Daniels is getting the starting reps in situational periods, which could indicate that the Commanders are closer to naming him as the starter (there's still no word when that date will actually be). Daniels was with the first group during two-minute drills and hit Zach Ertz for a touchdown. Ertz celebrated the play by punting the ball out of bounds.

-- There were three nominees for the catch of the day: the first was Jahan Dotson, who made a sideline grab on a comeback route. The next was Olamide Zaccheaus getting an over-the-shoulder catch from a pass by Daniels. Davion Davis, another receiver looking to claim a roster spot, was last on the list, as he leaped and stretched out to make a catch before falling out of bounds.