Players and staff are entering their final period of extended rest before their bye weeks during the season. Training camps around the league begin later this month, and it's an especially important one for the Washington Commanders as they look to cement their status among the contenders moving forward.
For head coach Dan Quinn to achieve this feat, it must be a collective effort. Everyone who goes onto the roster must play their part. And if a few pleasant surprises emerge along the way, the better Washington's hopes of winning the Super Bowl will be.
Battles will be fierce with no quarter given over camp. It's intense, physical, and the urgency across the franchise is extremely high. They don't want to become a one-season wonder. They want to prove this once-proud organization is back. The only way to do that is by putting in the hard yards now.
Some will flounder with the spotlight glaring. Others will excel under pressure and be rewarded accordingly. And some previously unheralded players will step up to the plate to give those in power some tough decisions when the time comes.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders who could erupt into camp breakouts this summer.
Commanders underdogs who could erupt into camp breakouts
Javontae Jean-Baptiste - Commanders DE/OLB
There are grave concerns about the Washington Commanders' lack of explosive pass-rushers heading into the new campaign. Adam Peters added a couple, but there was almost no urgency to rectify this flaw.
It's up to those he's placed so much faith in to reward Peters accordingly. Washington has enough spare cash to sign another accomplished free agent, but the general manager is giving the current options time to impress before taking drastic action.
The Commanders need someone, anyone, to make a bigger impact on proceedings. It's a long shot, but Javontae Jean-Baptiste might just be that guy if the necessary improvements are made.
Last year's seventh-round pick made the team and flashed promise when limited action came his way. A couple of trips to injured reserve didn't exactly enhance his early development, but all signs point to him being fully healthy now.
The former Notre Dame star is explosive with the quick-twitch movements to thrive once his pass-rushing arsenal increases. Jean-Baptiste is a little undersized, making him vulnerable against the run. That means a pass-rushing specialist role could be a bold yet attainable target for the second-year pro.
He might not be able to meet Washington's raised standards, but don't be surprised if Jean-Baptiste becomes more influential with a fast start at camp.