5 Commanders players who cemented roster spots in 2024 preseason opener

The NFL reduced the number of preseason games from four to three last year, giving each game added importance. There is precious little time for players on the roster bubble to show the coaching staff how they perform in real-time situations. As fans, we place even more significance on these contests since it is the one piece of training camp that is entirely public.'

We aren’t in meetings, and a lot of practice remains confidential. But we see every play in a preseason game.

In the Washington Commanders' first official game under Dan Quinn, the team lost 20-17 to the New York Jets. They were in control through much of the contest but missed a crucial field and were unable to stop a couple of young undrafted quarterbacks from fighting back after most of the starters had departed.

The result doesn’t matter. The performance of a lot of players fighting to earn a roster spot does.

At several positions, especially at running back, those battles got tighter. It’s impossible to tell whether quarterbacks Jeff Driskel or Sam Hartman did enough to force the coaches to think about keeping three in 2024. They both performed well.

On the other side of the ball, things were different. Until touted draft pick Johnny Newton is healthy enough to play, Washington will need defensive tackles to spell starters Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Coaches got a long look at those potential backups against the Jets, and none of them stood out.

The same is true at the linebacker position. The starters have been massively upgraded, but the backups remain a work in progress. New players like Anthony Pittman and Keandre Jones were certainly active, but they didn’t always make plays when they could have. At the very least, it didn’t appear that any of them took a major step forward in the battle to back up starters Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and Jamin Davis.

There were a handful of players who did take a decisive step ahead of their competition. Here are five Commanders players who earned a roster spot with their performance against the Jets.

Commanders players who secured roster spots versus the Jets

Chris Paul - Commanders OL

Several good things happened for Chris Paul. He started in place of right tackle Andrew Wylie. Then he moved inside to the guard position he has played ever since he arrived in Washington.

Paul played right tackle at Tulsa but never really got a tryout on the outside in the pros. The fact that the coaches gave him a start at right tackle could be a sign. He seemed comfortable in limited snaps.

When he shifted back to guard, he also appeared very solid. Other interior linemen like veteran free agent Michael Deiter and newly signed J.C Hassenauer struggled, which opened the door even wider.

Deiter, in particular, had a rough game. One of the strikes against Paul coming into the season was that he didn’t offer the flexibility of other backups, many of whom can play both center and guard. If he can prove adept at multiple spots, it could set him apart from those other linemen.

Paul has always had physical tools and enthusiasm. He has simply needed to refine his technique and show consistency. He did that versus the Jets.

Tyler Owens - Commanders S

Undrafted free agent Tyler Owens did not look like a rookie during his NFL debut.

Everyone knew about his physical gifts this off-season. His broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine - an indication of leg explosion - was off the charts. He is big, fast, and has everything you look for in a safety on the backend. The main question is whether he can turn that athleticism into on-field production.

He did that time and time again against the New York Jets. Owens played a lot of snaps early and made plays all over the field.

One of the players he may be competing with, Jeremy Reaves, missed a clean tackle early on. Owens didn’t miss a thing. When he hit players, they went down. Though it can be hard to tell in limited snaps against a vanilla offense, he never seemed out of position, which was a major problem for Commanders' safeties last season.

Dyami Brown - Commanders WR

This one is simple.

New quarterback Jayden Daniels throws a beautiful deep ball. Dyami Brown is supposed to be a deep threat. Three plays into the game, the signal-caller launched a gorgeous throw down the right sideline. The streaking wideout hauled it in, despite having one arm held by Jets’ cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

Brown was already likely to take one of the backup receiver roles. This one play not only locked up a spot but probably earned a longer look as the top option behind starters Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

The former third-round pick played much of the first half and later caught a second ball from Jeff Driskel. It is significant that both of his catches came on third and long plays and resulted in first downs.

Brown has shown flashes of this potential before but has never built on it. He's also never had a quarterback who could take advantage of what he does best. In Daniels, he finally has such a player under center.

Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders CB

For Noah Igbinoghene, the preseason game at the New York Jets may have been a battle of attrition. Starters Benjamin St-Juste and Mike Sainristil had short, quiet nights. The other projected starter - Emmanuel Forbes Jr. - made some nice tackles but was also easily burned for the opposition's first touchdown.

Once those starters left, most of the backups struggled in coverage. James Pierre didn’t look particularly good, nor did Michael Davis. Nick Whiteside was credited with a pass break-up, but it only occurred because of an underthrow. Otherwise, he would have been beaten for a big play.

Igbonoghene wasn’t perfect, but he seemed the most comfortable in coverage. His history with Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. may have already provided him with a leg up on the other backup cornerbacks. His production did nothing to diminish that.

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

Like Dyami Brown, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus entered the game with a good shot at a roster spot. His play locked that in.

He was effective both as a receiver and punt returner. The punt returner job still may go to Davion Davis, who made several good plays, or Kazmeir Allen. But those Washington Commanders players would have to make the roster entirely based on their return ability.

Zaccheaus can make it on the strength of his receiving. The return ability serves as a bonus.

He showed that receiving ability when he took a short third-down pass from veteran quarterback Jeff Driskel and turned it into a big gain. The play was wiped out due to offsetting penalties, but the exciting playmaking ability Zaccheaus brings to the table was on full display.

The wideout is dangerous in the open field. He could supply some of what the departed Curtis Samuel provided last season.

The Commanders play the Miami Dolphins this weekend, when more players will be looking to earn their way onto the final roster.