Washington Football Team Camp: Curtis Samuel update, offensive line insight, and fantasy tidbits

ASHBURN, Virginia — New Washington Football Team wide receiver Curtis Samuel has yet to practice in training camp with a groin injury suffered in OTAs. Meanwhile, Washington has a position battle on the offensive line at left guard.

Curtis Samuel’s groin injury is not a concern for Washington in training camp

Head coach Ron Rivera has declined to set a timeline for Samuel, who signed a three-year, $34.5 million deal in the offseason. Still, we sense that the WFT is not overly concerned about his availability for the opener.

Instead, the long layoff might be more of a reflection of this leadership group’s play-it-safe philosophy regarding injuries. Washington slow-played Chase Young’s groin injury in early 2020 and could be doing the same with Samuel this time around. Whenever Samuel — who has also spent time on the reserve/COVID-19 list this camp — returns to practice, WFT should have a stacked receivers group.

A stacked WR core

Terry McLaurin is the obvious No. 1 after catching 87 passes for 1,118 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2020. Furthermore, rookie Dyami Brown has been a revelation, earning first-team snaps with high-level play.

Brown averaged 18.7 yards per catch in his three years at North Carolina and could develop into one of new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s top home-run threats. Other receivers working with the first team during Tuesday’s practice [August 10] include Cam Sims, Antonio Gandy-Golden, and Isaiah Wright.

At running back, expect the top three to be some combination of Antonio Gibson, Peyton Barber, and J.D. McKissic. Short of injury, Lamar Miller’s odds are long to make the 53 since he doesn’t play special teams.

At tight end, Logan Thomas is the clear No. 1, and WFT seems to still be trying to ID a No. 2. John Bates, Sammis Reyes, Temarrick Hemingway, and Nick Guggemos all got first-team reps Tuesday.

One quarterback note: Taylor Heinicke seems to have the edge, for now, over Kyle Allen to back up Fitzpatrick. Steven Montez’s poor camp continued when he one-hopped a receiver Tuesday.

Washington offensive line battle at left guard

The offensive line is largely set. The only real battle that we saw Tuesday was at left guard between Wes Schweitzer and Ereck Flowers.

Rookie Sam Cosmi is the clear leader over Saahdiq Charles at right tackle, and that’s a function of Charles’ time on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Cosmi’s strong play.

We hear WFT sees Cosmi, a second-rounder out of Texas, as a potential Pro Bowler, and he’s responded particularly well to instructions from Charles Leno Jr., who will be Washington’s starting left tackle.

Leno is a reliable, durable leader of a group that includes All-Pro right guard Brandon Scherff. Meanwhile, Chase Roullier is back at center after signing a four-year extension with the team in January.

A lot of moving parts in Washington’s secondary

Washington has a bunch of versatile guys in the secondary, and Tuesday’s practice suggested defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is still testing out the best combination of players as the Football Team mixed and matched.

Offseason signing Bobby McCain and second-year pro Kamren Curl could both see time at free safety. McCain can also play the in the slot.

William Jackson (boundary corner) has been dealing with a minor quad injury and the challenge of covering McLaurin. Expect Kendall Fuller to start on the other side. Additionally, rookie Benjamin St-Juste has emerged as a solid No. 3 corner.

Landon Collins has looked great less than 10 months removed from Achilles tendon surgery and told NFL Network he intends to play in Thursday’s preseason game.

Cornerback Jimmy Moreland also seems to have improved after an uneven 2020 season.