Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane is finding his footing in the Washington Commanders' offense.
After being held without a catch with just one target and returning two punts for a total of five yards against the New England Patriots, the fourth-rounder saw an uptick in action against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night.
Lane led all Commanders' wideouts in receiving yards, catching three of six targets for 42 yards in the team's preseason loss to the Bengals.
"My number one goal is to get the ball back for the offense, whatever that looks like," Lane said in the locker room following the game. "If there's a play to be made, I'm going to do my best to make it."
Lane showed off his athleticism in the third quarter, when he fought through a jersey pull to connect with quarterback Sam Hartman on a tight-window throw downfield. The fight for the catch paid off for Lane, who converted on third down.
"In the receiver room, we always talk about fight," Lane said. "You fight so hard throughout the route, so you get rewarded when you make that catch. So, you're just fighting throughout the whole play and at the point of contact."
Lane got looks on both the outside and the slot throughout the game, a change-up from taking a majority of snaps on special teams in the Commanders' previous preseason game against the Patriots.
"I just think they want to see what I can do on the outside and see how I adapt and see how I am versus more press coverage, things like that," Lane said. "My job as a receiver is to get open and catch the ball, no matter if I'm inside or outside."
Lane did just that. Lane lined up as a slot receiver on his third quarter connection with Hartman, while his 16-yard reception -- his longest of the day -- from quarterback Josh Johnson in the second quarter came when he was lined up on the outside.
No matter in the slot or outside, Lane made plays each time his number was called. His dynamic playmaking ability, something he attributes to having experience in both alignments in college.
"I played a lot when I started my career at Middle Tennessee State; majority outside and then at Virginia Tech majority slot, so I feel like I've got a good balance inside and outside throughout my career," Lane said.
Despite falling to Cincinnati, 31-17, Lane felt the team played at a higher level compared to the way they played against the Patriots. The offense felt more disciplined and physical, living up to Washington's standard of play.
"I think we definitely lived up to more of our standard this game," Lane said. "It still didn't turn out how we wanted, but you could just see that we played with a lot more physicality and that I think we didn't play with Week 1."
The Commanders will return to Northwest Stadium Saturday to host the Baltimore Ravens in what will be Lane's final test of the preseason. No matter where he takes snaps, it should provide Lane with another opportunity to prove his worth.
