This late catch & run by @deebo.samuel helped solidify his legendary debut for the @Commanders_ era. He made defenders look foolish in practice leading up to the road game against the Green Bay Packers. After the team traded for Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers during offseason, he blended into their offensive game plan that fast. Over that time he has proven his creativity and versatility consistently.
Samuel’s impact during his six years with the 49ers was massive. He hit a major valley of performance last season. He finished the year with only 806 yards from scrimmage, easily the career-low for him in a season where he played more than seven games. Following that season, he asked for a trade, resulting in him being acquired by Washington in the offseason.
During recent practices, Samuel recorded impressive statistics, accounting for 96 yards from scrimmage, including a 19-yard touchdown run and another 50 yards on kick returns. To be sure, this standout performance is a testament to his potential to be a game-changing player for the Commanders.
While some speculation surrounded Samuel’s speed and abilities this offseason, he remained focused on his integration into the new team. “I really didn’t know what it was going to look like to be honest,” he reflected of making the switch to Washington. However, Samuel returned just what the Commanders hoped for when they acquired him via trade.
Samuel’s chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels was built quickly over the course of summer. With star receiver Terry McLaurin out of action for most of camp, Samuel made the most of his opportunity. He created a deep rapport with Daniels. Quarterback Josh Samuel and tight end Zach Ertz displayed their chemistry all day during practice. They made important key plays in blocking to help Daniels do his job.
Jayden Daniels weighed in on the advantage of having so many playmakers from the time. And that just makes things a thousand times easier, having a lot of playmakers around you. This enthusiastic sentiment is a microcosm of the excitement surrounding the Panthers signing Samuel to the roster.
Samuel’s game goes further than just receiving, though — it’s the threat of misdirection that sends defenses shuffling. In real life, he was justifiably often filmed going in motion across the line, killing his prey and changing direction beautifully. He immediately pivoted and ran in back of Daniels. Instead, Daniels faked a handoff and then passed the ball to running back Austin Ekeler.
Austin Ekeler praised Samuel’s impact on the field, noting that having such a dynamic player keeps defenses on their toes. It’s hard to read,” said Jabrill Peppers, who has provided inspiration to linemen and tight ends alike to truly elevate their games higher than their peaks. Ekeler pointed out that Samuel can act like an extra blocker, which creates plays for literally everyone else on the offense.
Yet the Commanders decided not to extend Samuel’s contract despite his tangible, visible contributions. His current contract runs out at the end of this season. This decision creates some uncertainty about his long-term future with the team but doesn’t change the fact that he’ll have an immediate impact.
Defensive players have been impressed by Samuel’s practice performances as well. Dexter Lawrence commented on the challenges of containing someone with Samuel’s skill set: “When we wrapped him up we got him down,” he said, acknowledging the difficulty of defending against a versatile player like Samuel. He stressed that he found a lot of open seams throughout the game. This demonstrates Samuel’s impressive field vision and burst.
As the Commanders set their sights on a primetime tussle with Green Bay on Thursday, they are excited about Samuel’s potential impact. Head Coach Dan Quinn sounded sure that Samuel was a great fit for this team. As he put it, “We’ve seen that movie,” calling that experience one of the rationales for the trade and why it was such a good fit. Quinn went on to say that Samuel was “a real pleasure to coach.” He emphasized Samuel’s influence on their practice and team culture.
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