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Training camp notebook | Commanders face first measuring stick against Patriots in joint practice

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The Washington Commanders have officially wrapped their joint practice in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against the New England Patriots with plenty of film to evaluate on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to break down, so let's dive into some of the highlights from Wednesday's work.

-- Quinn started his press conference by informing the media that seven players did not make the trip to the Patriots facility, all dealing with various injuries. Sam Cosmi and Terry McLaurin, both on the Physically Unable to Perform list, were at the top of the list. Quinn also named Noah Brown, Brandon Coleman, Marcus Mariota, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Jordan Magee, although all those players are dealing with minor injuries.

-- Mariota has been at practice for the last week but absent for most of the team's 11-on-11 work. Quinn described his concern as low and said Mariota was dealing with a lower leg strain.

-- Deatrich Wise Jr. still gets plenty of love from Patriots fans for the eight years he spent with the team. He spoke after practice about how much he still appreciates the organization for drafting him and giving him a chance. He also took some time to thank several people who work for the team behind the scenes like the kitchen staff for all the work they did to help him get ready for games. When he was finished, he stood by the goalpost and signed autographs for about a dozen kids.

-- Former Washington running back Antonio Gibson is still with the Patriots and spoke after practice about what it was like to see his former team. Most of the roster has been turned over since his days with the Burgundy & Gold, but he liked getting to see former teammates like Tress Way again. And he had one word for quarterback Jayden Daniels: "Special."

-- It was an up-and-down day for both sides of the ball, but there were certain aspects of the Commanders' offense that truly shined. The best example of that was the connection between Daniels and tight end Zach Ertz. Daniels targeted Ertz in the middle of the field several times, and most of those targets resulted in completions.

-- Running back Brian Robinson Jr. was fired up during practice, often seen clapping in the huddle to hype up his teammates. Robinson showed good vision and quickness on the outside, as he wove through defenders for two big gains near the start of practice.

-- The entire Washington offensive line did well against the Patriots' pass rush, but left tackle Laremy Tunsil stood out the most. He pushed a Patriots defensive lineman all the way to the sideline on one run play, which prompted some pushing and shoving after the play. He was also a stalwart in pass protection, as he pushed Keion White into the ground with little effort during one-on-one drills.

-- On the other field, where the Commanders' defense was getting reps against the Patriots' offense, it appeared that the unit still has some work to do before being ready for Week 1, although it's worth pointing out that it can be difficult to evaluate a unit when it doesn't have a full game plan for an opposing offense. Still, there were a few standout moments during 11-on-11 drills. Trey Amos didn't have a highlight pass breakup or interception but did disrupt the timing against receivers like Stefon Diggs. Car'lin Vigers also had a nice pass breakup in the end zone, which drew some praise from his coaches.

-- Two of the Commanders' depth pieces on defense showed solid technique as well. Both linebacker Kain Medrano and Percy Butler had a knack for sticking with their matchups in coverage, closing the gap when they made catches and breaking down to make tackles. Medrano has looked particularly impressive over the past few practices, and he looks like he is starting to get more comfortable in the scheme.

-- Both sides of the ball ended the day on a good note during situational drills. The starting defense managed to keep Drake Maye out of the end zone, as Mike Sainristil caught an interception in the end zone on a tipped pass. Washington's starting offense was also held without a touchdown, but the second group hit paydirt on a pass from Josh Johnson to Jacoby Jones.

-- Here are a few smaller moments that stood out during Wednesday's joint practice: Michael Gallup had a nice catch during 11-on-11 drills and lowered his shoulder for a loud hit on a Patriots defensive back. Ja'Corey Brooks had one of the best catches of the day for the Commanders, as he made a one-handed grab near the back of the end zone. Daniels was sharp for most of the day, but perhaps his best throw came when he threaded the ball between two Patriots players to Luke McCaffrey.

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