Daily Slop – 21 Jun 25 – Encouraging reports on RG Sam Cosmi’s rehab from torn ACL

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, and a sprinkling of other stuff

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Commanders.com

Cosmi ‘doing excellent’ in recovery from ACL injury

The Washington Commanders lost a key piece of their offense when guard Sam Cosmi went down with an ACL injury in the Division round in January. It guaranteed that he would miss the NFC Championship a week later and at least a portion of the 2025 season.

There’s still no timetable for when Cosmi could return to the lineup, but all things are going as planned for the former second-round pick.

“Sam is doing excellent,” said head coach Dan Quinn. “Like he has really put the work in. He’s hitting all the markers that he’s supposed to. We’re not gonna miss one step along the process. But it starts with him, man, like just the, the everyday intensity that goes with it.”

Cosmi, who underwent surgery on his knee after the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship game, was seen jogging on the sideline during the team’s final minicamp practice. Although there are still several steps for Cosmi to take before being ready to suit up again, it does align with Quinn’s assertion that he is on track for a return at some point in the season.

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Riggo’s Rag

Colson Yankoff’s surge over Commanders’ offseason program raises the stakes for Ben Sinnott

Most NFL teams only elect to keep three tight ends on their roster. The Commanders have usually been no exception to that.

Last year, Yankoff made it four, but he spent a chunk of the season on injured reserve before returning to appear in two playoff games. He took only six offensive snaps and did not record any statistics outside of special teams.

If he continues to be a revelation this offseason, that might change in 2025. In this scenario, Washington may have to make room for him to be part of the offensive rotation.

It would be shocking if the Commanders released Ertz despite his age making him expendable. He’s one of the team’s most respected leaders and still a productive player who enjoyed his best campaign in several years last fall. Bates’ role as a blocker and overall “glue guy” also feels secure.

That leaves Sinnott, the second-round pick who struggled to get on the field as a rookie. After entering the season with some reasonable hype, the Kansas State product caught only five passes for 28 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Sinnott will have every opportunity this summer to make strides, but so will Yankoff. So far, it appears that the less heralded second-year contributor is the one doing more to raise his stock.

As it stands today, one has to wonder whether or not the two-time first-team All-Big 12 member would make the Commanders’ roster. However, head coach Dan Quinn was glowing in his praise of Sinnott for the work ethic and improvements demonstrated over the offseason.

Although that’s a big positive, Yankoff’s surprising emergence needs to be taken as a shot in the arm for Sinnott.

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Podcasts & videos

Rookie Report: CB Trey Amos, Defensive Discussion & Cowboy Cody? | Get Loud | Commanders

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NFC East Breakdown Pt2: The Washington Commanders | The Best Football Show

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NFC East links

Bleeding Green Nation

9 losers from the Eagles’ spring practices

QB DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON

DTR was the worst quarterback from the Eagles’ spring practices. It’s not like he was absolutely awful; it’s just that everyone else was clearly better … including his top competition for the QB3 role, rookie Kyle McCord. In fairness to DTR, it’s not like his mobility is maximized in a practice setting. He might be able to shine a bit more in preseason games. For now, though, it looks like he’s the odd man out in the quarterback room.

S SYDNEY BROWN

The good news for Brown is that he’s the first man up at first-team safety next to Reed Blankenship. He has an opportunity to win that job. The bad news is that Brown had some struggles in coverage during spring practices. He’s also splitting his first-team reps with rookie Andrew Mukuba and others. I think Eagles fans seem to be higher on Brown than Vic Fangio is.

CB TARIQ CASTRO-FIELDS

I wrote down TCF’s number in my notes a lot this spring. And not because he was making plays … but rather because he was allowing them.

OL BRETT TOTH

With Cam Jurgens still recovering from offseason back surgery, Toth was the Eagles’ first-team center. He struggled to snap the ball effectively to the point where it ruined multiple reps for the offense. Toth had this same exact issue two years ago, which led to the Eagles re-signing Josh Andrews just to have a center who could properly snap the ball in practice. Jurgens is expected to be ready for training camp, so, that’s good. Still, it’s time to end the Toth at center experiment. It’s just not working. Drew Kendall should be getting his center reps.

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Big Blue View

When will Jaxson Dart start? ‘Pretty darn early,’ says NFL insider

Add NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah to the list of those who think this will not be a full redshirt season for New York Giants’ rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

“I think he’s got a chance to play pretty darn early here,” Jeremiah told Rich Eisen. “You just kind of listen to the words of Brian Daboll and you get the sense, this was his guy. He’s invested in him, and he seems to really, really like him … it sounds a little different the way he’s talking about him.

“To me that makes it sound like , hey, this isn’t something that this is a redshirt year for him as they hand the ball to Russell Wilson for a full season. I think we’re gonna see a lot of Jaxson Dart this year.”

Jeremiah’s prediction for Dart’s first start? Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, a game that comes after a 10-day layoff for the Giants.

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NFL league links

Articles

Pro Football Focus

2025 NFL running back unit rankings: Derrick Henry spearheads Ravens’ top-ranked group

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley’s incredible 2024 season alone earns Philadelphia a high mark on this list. Postseason included, Barkley rushed for more than 2,500 yards last season while forcing 83 missed tackles and generating an astonishing 55 explosive runs.

AJ Dillon and Will Shipley will be Barkley’s backups in 2025. Dillon missed all of last season due to a neck injury but earned a solid 76.1 PFF rushing grade in 2023. Shipley tallied just 34 carries during his rookie campaign but could be the team’s primary kick returner this season.

14. Washington Commanders

The Commanders don’t have a singular star in their running back room, but they do have a considerable amount of depth. Brian Robinson Jr. has proven reliable and led the unit with 928 rushing yards last season, including the playoffs. Austin Ekeler rebounded from a tough 2023 to earn a 69.8 PFF overall grade.

Third-stringer Jeremy McNichols recorded an 86.3 PFF rushing grade in limited work in 2024, and the team will likely look for seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to contribute soon.

31. New York Giants

Giants running backs ranked 30th in the NFL in PFF rushing grade last season, yet the team brought its two leading ball carriers back for another season.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. displayed flashes with three 100-yard games, but he slowed down late in the season and eventually earned a mediocre 69.6 PFF rushing grade.

Devin Singletary was a bit less efficient and generated just 10 explosive runs out of 113 carries. Perhaps fourth-round rookie Cam Skattebo can provide a jolt after leading all Power Four running backs with a 93.3 PFF overall grade last season while at Arizona State.

32. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys allowed their two leading rushers, Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, to leave in free agency. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders have since taken their place.

Williams struggled in Denver, recording just a 64.6 PFF rushing grade over the past three seasons. Sanders has yet to rediscover the high level of production he showed in 2022 with Philadelphia. Fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue could provide a boost with his speed and receiving ability, but he’s never been a workhorse type of back. Dallas’ running back situation could become a major issue during the 2025 season.

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All aTwitter

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