Commanders OTA Notebook: DBs Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin Keep Making Plays
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders are hitting the middle of their early offseason program with OTA Week 2 underway, and on Wednesday we got another chance to get a look at this new-look squad at practice.
And it's another opportunity for us to share three Commanders' observations and takeaways from the day.
YOUNG, SMART, AND TALENTED
Washington may have surprised some people when they went back-to-back defensive backs in the NFL Draft, but both Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin are well on their way to making coach Ron Rivera and his fellow decision-makers look smart.
Forbes had interceptions in each of the practice sessions open to media before this week, and he made more plays even though the takeaways fell into other hands.
Martin made his share of plays as well including a high IQ read on an inside route while he was in an outside zone drop.
On the play, Martin was able to break effectively and deflect the ball into the waiting hands of new linebacker Cody Barton.
It has to be encouraging to Rivera and his staff to see newcomers making impact plays so early on.
SAFETY NET
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was considered by many to have earned a shot at starting again after his 2022 season with the Cleveland Browns.
Signing with the Commanders it looks like he'll instead fill a backup role he's become accustomed to during his NFL career, but if the team needs to turn to him, there shouldn't be much concern about his capabilities.
Seeing Brissett in person for the first time these past couple of weeks and one thing is clear - his arm is more than capable of doing what this team needs it to.
When he leads the second team onto the practice field for drills his decision-making and veteran savvy also sticks out.
More times than just a few we've witnessed Brissett put the ball in smart places, and do it accurately.
And more than a few times we've wondered aloud whether or not the receiver's hands are still intact following a catch.
TIGHT END SURPLUS
There aren't a lot of positions in football where any observer would say it's a bad thing to have too much depth.
For Washington, it's certainly not a negative that whenever a tight end goes down another capable one steps up in his place.
While we'll never celebrate an injury, the one suffered by second-year tight end Armani Rogers opened a door for fellow sophomore Curtis Hodges, and it's one he's seeming very capable of taking advantage of.
On Wednesday Hodges was targeted several times and came down with the ball time and time again, including some impressive catches made on boundaries and while going to the ground.
His length and athleticism are something that draws the eye similar to the way tight end Cole Turner does, but due to injuries and impressive play ahead of him, we only got glimpses of it last season.
Now, with the Commanders suffering yet another tight end injury, it's clear the team has made a solid effort of stockpiling young talent to raise, and Hodges may be next in line to draw some fan excitement if he can repeat his performance on Wednesday.
Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.
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