Team news: Washington Commanders | Page 50

While Marcus Mariota hasn’t stood out this preseason (this column was written before Saturday night’s game), Ryan Tannehill threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the first exhibition game. And one report from ESPN this past week stated that Mariota is no lock to start in Week 1, with some of the Titans coaches preferring Tannehill, who ran a similar offense in Miami.

The Titans gave Mariota his fifth-year option but not an extension, and then signed Tannehill to give him competition. The story said even if Mariota wins the job, he won't be on a long leash.

The ESPN Chargers reporter Eric Williams believes that Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson would see a 50/50 split in work if Melvin Gordon's holdout lingers into the season.

Austin Ekeler was the starter in the Chargers first preseason game while Justin Jackson saw a few touches, including a short touchdown. ESPN's Eric Williams has seen more of a 50/50 split in camp, so maybe that's how it will end up, but at the moment the first preseason game should be more indicative of snaps. With Gordon out, we will get a good idea of how the snaps and touches are doled out with the next two preseason games.

Zach Ertz's targets will likely go down in an offense with Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, Dallas Goedert and Darren Sproles, but he’ll likely still lead the team in targets/receptions, and maybe even touchdowns, too.

Ertz has looked great in camp and has especially been tough to stop in the red zone, according to reports. He's ranked third among our TEs heading into drafts despite the loaded Eagles offense. Ertz has always been a favorite target for QB Carson Wentz

The Jets were able to exhale Tuesday after wide receiver Jamison Crowder was cleared to return to practice, one day after an injury scare.

Crowder left Monday’s practice after injuring his left foot. Crowder limped off the field and was examined by team trainers and doctors before heading inside early. Jets coach Adam Gase said later that Crowder would undergo an MRI exam and other tests on the foot.

Apparently, there were no issues. The team announced Tuesday afternoon that Crowder had been medically cleared and is expected to practice Wednesday. The Jets had a day off from practice Tuesday.

Slot receiver Jamison Crowder, a key piece in the Jets' offense, was taken to the locker room with an apparent left ankle/foot issues.

As the tweet added, Crowder missed seven games last season with the Redskins, but that was his right ankle. Reports say Crowder was able to walk off on his own.

Adam Gase is promising to use Enunwa in multiple ways.

The Jets gave Enunwa a four-year, $36 million contract extension last December to keep him from becoming a free agent. Former general manager Mike Maccagnan gave Enunwa that deal, so it will be interesting to see how new GM Joe Douglas and Gase feel about Enunwa.

The presence of Jamison Crowder will allow Enunwa to play outside more and become more of a complete wide receiver.

Related players: Robby Anderson

Staying healthy has become a challenge for Enunwa, whose physical style hurt him last year. Gase has stressed that Enunwa sometimes needs to go down instead of fighting for every inch in order to keep himself healthy. That will go against Enunwa’s instincts, but it will be interesting to see whether he can adjust his style of play and stay on the field more. Enunwa is 54th on our list behind Anderson and Crowder.

Jamison Crowder had an impressive spring. He is extremely quick and looked fully healthy. The combination of Crowder, LeVeon Bell and Chris Herndon should give Darnold plenty of options in the middle of the field and create headaches for opposing defenses. Adam Gase will create mismatches with Crowder and if he can get a linebacker on him, watch out.

Crowder returned punts in Washington and he could get a look in that unsettled role with the Jets, but they are clearly more interested in him as their starting slot receiver.

The story pointed out Crowder is a potential huge weapon for Darnold and the Jets and that Gase has had success with slot receivers like Wes Welker, Jarvis Landry and Danny Amendola in the past.

Since Ryan Tannehill arrived in Tennessee, Mike Vrabel repeatedly has had to answer questions about Marcus Mariota‘s hold on the starting job. The Titans coach has never wavered.

But the questions aren’t going away.

Vrabel again had to address the topic this week during a conference call for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. He again gave Mariota a vote of confidence.

Vrabel went on to say Tannehill's job as the backup is to "push the guy in front of him." Of course, Mariota has to stay healthy for this to hold true. He's getting paid $20.9 million this season as the team picked up his fifth-year option and it's certainly a make-or-break year for the QB.

The production hasn't matched the investment. And that means receiver Josh Doctson is likely entering his final season in Washington. There have been flashes; there has been frustration. There have been others to blame; there are times it's all on Doctson.

Regardless, Doctson appears to have found a peace with his situation. Experience combined with age, an offseason trip to Rwanda and some spiritual reading have left Doctson in a better place mentally.

Related players: Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon

That's how Doctson will enter this season when the Redskins begin training camp on July 25. The Skins didn't pick up his fifth-year option in the spring and they drafted two receivers in late April, McLaurin and Harmon.

Seattle has six tight ends on its roster heading into camp — fewer than it usually has, which is likely in large part because of Fant. Those six are: Will Dissly, Ed Dickson, Jacob Hollister, Nick Vannett, Tyrone Swoopes and Justin Johnson, the latter an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State.

When I did a 53-man roster projection following minicamp, I kept three tight ends — Dissly, Vannett and Hollister.

Bob Condotta is the author and believes Dissly, who we have as the highest ranked Seattle TE, could end up on the PUP list to start camp and added the team will be patient with him and his patellar tendon injury. Hollister was acquired in a deal with the Patriots and the team seems high on him because of his speed. The story said Dickson will be 32 at the start of camp and the team could save $3.55 million by releasing him.