Commanders Training Camp Takeaways: First day of padded practice leads to vital position group erasing doubt and Jayden Daniels making plays again

Training camp is progressing for the Washington Commanders as Monday marked the first practice with pads on for players. 

This is a vital part of training camp for the team as they ramp up the intensity and really see where the team stands. Practice is really starting now and it showed in just the first day. Many Commanders players were ready to finally make some contact on the field.

Today was a veteran rest day for Marshon Lattimore, Laremy Tunsil, Von Miller, Zach Ertz, and Clelin Ferrell, but others showed up and showed out.

Deebo Samuel stands out again as HC Dan Quinn praised Samuel and said that he brings an energy to the team. He brought the energy on the field today as the media reported that he was on kickoff return with Austin Ekeler and made another big play with Jayden Daniels. 

Training camp started hot for Samuel with a touchdown on the very first pass from Daniels and he continues to keep things going. Daniels found Samuel in the corner of the endzone in red zone drills with a fingertip catch that went just over Mike Sainrisitl and Trey Amos.

Mike Sainristil and the defense turned into the no fly zone against Daniels and the quarterback room last Friday, but Daniels turned that into motivation and he has been DIALED IN. Yes, Sainristil had an insane interception on Daniels yesterday but the throw was perfect. 

Daniels then found rookie Jaylin Lane for an absolute dart who mossed Sainristil and Quan Martin. The franchise QB came back again today with big plays to TE Ben Sinnott and Samuel. Reports saying today was his best day of training camp. Love to see that on the first day of pads.

Adding pads means that it’s time for the trenches to flex their muscles and move people around, and the defensive line won today. The offense reportedly had a hard time running the ball against Washington’s front four today which is great news for a group that couldn’t stop the run if their lives depended on it last season.

The offensive line is much improved this year, so the defensive line will truly be tested on a daily basis at practice. Iron sharpens iron and the team has talent all around on both sides of the ball now

McLaurin worked out on the side field again as he's still on the Active/PUP list and spent time signing autographs for fans afterwards. He also spent time on the field with his agent Buddy Baker again like he did on Sunday as well. NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped a new twist in the saga after practice, and this could drag a while.

I'll be back in Ashburn on Tuesday for the next padded practice and I'll have articles following up my on-site observations later in the day. Who will continue to rise to the occasion and make the most of these critical practices in training camp?