The Green & White's defense was in impressive form Monday, three days out from the Commanders and No. 2 overall pick in April's NFL Draft QB Jayden Daniels coming to the Atlantic Health Training Center for a joint practice with Jets.
"It's going to be fun," HC Robert Saleh said of Thursday's joint session with Washington. "The practice is going to be really good too, just as an added bonus for preparation, to get somebody else in here to go against somebody else will be good."
The defense closed out practice getting consecutive stops in an end of half situational period. Against the QB Aaron Rodgers and the starters, they forced a three and out. Second-year pass rusher Will McDonald got home off the right edge on first and second downs, forcing Rodgers into an incompletion and then a check down to RB Breece Hall. Then on third down, All-Pro LB Quincy Williams blew up a screen pass to Hall.
In an earlier team period, following consecutive pass defenses by S Ashtyn Davis and incompletion, Rodgers tried to fit a pass to TE Jeremy Ruckert over the middle. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw tipped the ball at the line before Davis batted it away from TE Jeremy Ruckert and LB Jamien Sherwood was able to come down with an interception.
"Every single year he [Sherwood] has gotten better and better and better," Saleh said. "He's increased his weight, his IQ, his speed, his strength, his mindset, just like Jermaine [Johnson], it is a mindset to get better day in and day out. But this dude, he's a hell of a linebacker."
Following the joint practice, the Commanders and Jets will play a preseason game Saturday at MetLife Stadium. Saleh and the coaching staff have yet to decide who will play in their first summer game.
"We've had preliminary conversations," Saleh said. "I haven't finalized anything. I won't finalize until Friday."
More Work for Fashanu
Eight-time Pro Bowler LT Tyron Smith worked out off to the side Monday as he deals with tightness in a lower extremity, but Saleh expects him back tomorrow.
Rookie Olu Fashanu protected Aaron Rodgers' blind side for the second straight practice after receiving valuable reps during Saturday's Green and White scrimmage. Fashanu, No. the 11 overall pick in April's NFL Draft, is expected to get reps at RT as camp progresses.
"Right now, it's just a matter of getting him [Fashanu] doing what we believe he is and making sure he gets very comfortable with that first," HC Robert Saleh said. "And once he gets to that level, we'll start working him in other areas."
Jetcetera
QB Aaron Rodgers flipped a pass to WR Lance McCutcheon for a first down deep down the seam … Rodgers fired a pass up the right sideline to WR Jason Brownlee who made a leaping grab over S Chuck Clark. … In the second to last period, the Jets offense was backed up on their own 2-yard-line. Rodgers found WR Garrett Wilson on a slant for a first down. QB Tyrod Taylor's group picked up a first down on both of their series. First Taylor connected with WR Irvin Charles over the middle for a first down completion and then Brownlee along the sideline for a first. Robert Saleh has been encouraged by the progress Brownlee has made since the start of camp: "He got off to a slow start. I think he would recognize that and say the same thing. But over the past couple of days, he's come on strong."
