Team news: Washington Commanders | Page 14

Austin Ekeler, Larry Rountree and Joshua Kelley all got work at running back with the first-team offense. Isaiah Spiller continues to play primarily with the second and third teams.

Related players: Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree

The story added Spiller is starting to show the physical play. We have Spiller second on the team's depth chart behind Ekeler, and it's the physical, between the tackles runs that should get him to the point where he's a possible one-two punch with Ekeler.

Eight days into camp and quarterback Josh Allen has connected with Isaiah McKenzie on a daily basis; McKenzie has routinely had the ball thrown his way during red zone drills.

Related players: Jamison Crowder

The story went on to say the two have great communication and are continuing to build on the chemistry as the season draws nearer. That development has helped McKenzie understand how to run his routes to get open at the right time. The team brought in Crowder to play the slot but he missed some time early on and reports said McKenzie was taking advantage.

The Cowboys will be without WR James Washington for 6-10 weeks because of a fractured right foot suffered Monday, according to multiple sources. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday in Dallas.

Related players: Michael Gallup, Jalen Tolbert, Noah Brown, CeeDee Lamb

With Gallup recovering from an ACL injury, it looks like the rookie Tolbert and Brown are next up on the suddenly thin depth chart, behind Lamb.

While discussing Antonio Gibson's lingering hamstring injury, Washington beat reporter Ben Standig mentioned, "at a minimum, Robinson is expected to handle short-yardage work", which would give the rookie a floor as a goal-line back.

Related Players: Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic

Standig also mentions, "Washington plans to find ways to get Gibson the ball in space rather than force him inside.". That sounds fine on paper, but the Commanders made sure that they brought back J.D. McKissic to repeat his third-down role, creating a logjam in the backfield with no real upside for any of the three pieces.

Washington plans to find ways to get Antonio Gibson the ball in space rather than force him inside. Part of the logic involves limiting wear and tear. The presence of rookie Brian Robinson affords that shift.

The Commanders, having already retained pass catching specialist J.D. McKissic, selected the Alabama standout known for power and ball security in the third round. At a minimum, Robinson is expected to handle short-yardage work, duties given to Gibson last season following the release of Peyton Barber.

Rivera called Robinson "a big, strong, powerful downhill runner, more so than anything else.” The story said Robinson popped some solid runs while primarily holding down first-team duties Wednesday. He’ll receive ample work with the starters as long as this cautious approach with Gibson remains, it went on to say.

After recording zero catches his rookie season in Dallas, WR Simi Fehoko has spent the offseason in Dallas. He has spent time with Dak Prescott and feels he offers something that the WR room may lack due to offseason moves and injuries. "Being the bigger, taller and I guess heavier receiver to be able to have that blend of speed I feel like adding that with learning from the route runner from [Noah Brown] or CeeDee, I feel like it's only just going to get better," Fehoko said. "I feel like that is something I bring to the table."

"I ended up staying here and I was able to work with Dak a little bit through the offseason," Fehoko said. "It's been smooth for me just being able to deal with them and be here the whole offseason."

Fehoko has a leg-up on rookies such as Jalen Tolbert by being in the Cowboys system for a season, but if he wants to be irreplaceable he has to top players with higher draft capital (Tolbert) and force out veterans such as James Washington. Fehoko could be an intriguing dynasty player if his time in Dallas bares fruit.

In Popper's post-draft look at the Chargers' depth chart, he notably listed rookie RB Isaiah Spiller ahead of incumbents Larry Rountree III and Joshua Kelley. "Finding a reliable backup behind Ekeler was a priority for general manager Tom Telesco and coach Brandon Staley this offseason, and they think they found that player in Spiller," wrote Popper.

Spiller has similar draft capital than Kelley (4th) and higher capital than Rountree (6th), and is arguably a better pass catcher than both heading into training camp. Spiller appears to be a dynasty player to target should Ekeler get hurt and has later-round value in redraft so long as he does not stumble out the gate.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed QB Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal.

Related Player: Feleipe Franks

Shortly after trading Matt Ryan, the Falcons add Mariota. The former Raider and Titan rejoins Arthur Smith in Atlanta. The two worked together in Tennessee. As of today, Mariota has little competition at quarterback, but that could change once the NFL Draft starts.

TE Zach Ertz is staying with Arizona, signing a three-year deal.

Ertz was a strong play with Kyler Murray and can continue to be a TE1-type player as long as he stays on the field.

The Cowboys are re-signing WR Noah Brown to a one-year deal.

Brown's return may not mean much, but unless the Cowboys draft a wideout assuming they move on from Amari Cooper, Brown could see his role increase in 2022.