The Washington Commanders' practice fields were mostly cleared of players after the second day of training camp. Most of them had gone to the locker room or were speaking to the media to recap the action from the day.
Undrafted wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks was one of the few players still on the field almost 30 minutes after practice with his helmet still on. He was working alongside tight end Tyree Jackson and Cole Turner, all of whom were catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Josh Johnson.
"I want to just show them that I'm in good shape," Brooks said.
Brooks needs the extra work, given his situation as an undrafted free agent who faces a long road toward making the official 53-man roster. But Brooks has already stood out in the first two days of camp with three touchdowns working with the starters and second group.
Brooks is not trying to prove he deserves one of the top spots on the depth chart; his sole focus is showing that he belongs.
"I'm just trying to prove that I could be able to play here," Brooks said.
Brooks, who played high school football at Booker T. Washington High School and IMG Academy, spent three seasons at Alabama before transferring to Louisville. He had a solid sophomore campaign with the Crimson Tide, recording 39 receptions for 674 yards and eight touchdowns, but an upper-body injury limited his availability and production in 2023.
Brooks wrapped up his college career by being named a First Team All-ACC selection for being the first Louisville receiver since 2022 to record a 1,000-yard season. His 1,013 yards were second in the conference, while his nine touchdowns were third.
In his draft profile of the wide receiver, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein highlighted Brooks' impressive touchdown rate -- he scored a touchdown for every six touches -- and ability to make catches downfield. Both qualities were on display during the first two days of Commanders camp, as he started the week with two touchdowns during seven-on-seven drills.
It can be easy for a rookie, particularly an undrafted free agent, to get caught up in early success, but Brooks isn't using his positive plays as an excuse to assume he is on track to earn a roster spot.
"I just want to take it one day at a time," Brooks said. "Stack days and stack plays. I ain't...getting too overhyped or underhyped. Just staying neutral with it."
Brooks would rather focus on where he needs to improve. He spent the summer working on his routes and creating separation. That dedication has carried over into camp, which is what he was doing with Mariota and Johnson after Thursday's practice.
It also allows him to build more chemistry with his quarterbacks, and he said that has been going well, too.
"It's been amazing," Brooks said. "Just me, as a young player, watching them before I even got here, It's amazing to be able to catch with those guys. They give knowledge as far as route running and separation and where to be. They lead, so I follow."
Brooks has had a strong start to camp, although he still has plenty to prove. Most of the Commanders' receiver room is set aside from one or two spots. There are several players looking to claim those spots, including seasoned veterans like Chris Moore and Michael Gallup. Others, like KJ Osborn, already have a year's worth of experience in Washington's system, which would seemingly give them an advantage in the position battle.
But Brooks has moved into that conversation, at least for now, because he has been so productive in the first week. He'll need to keep showing that throughout August, when the Commanders begin their preseason schedule with joint practices against the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens also in the coming weeks.
No matter what comes next, Brooks intends to keep the same attitude.
"Just try to get in my playbook, know the plays and fit in where I can," Brooks said.
