Commanders Reveal Training Camp Schedule
Training Camp Schedule
The Washington Commanders revealed their 2022 training camp schedule Thursday, announcing camp will begin July 26 and run through August 18.
This year the team will hold camp at their main facilities in Ashburn, according to the team’s website. This will be the first year since 2013 that Washington did not travel to Richmond (excluding the 2020 pandemic season). Last year the team spent a week in Richmond before returning home to finish.
The Commanders will be one of only ten teams to open camp with both rookies and veterans scheduled to arrive on the same day.
2022 @NFL Training Camp Reporting Dates and Locations: https://t.co/TLIPUQl32l pic.twitter.com/twb9WkwKVR — NFL345 (@NFL345) June 23, 2022
While fans in Richmond will certainly be upset the team won’t be coming this year, it’s not that much of a shocker. The team paid the city $100,000 to rent the facilities at Bon Secours Training Center last season. It’s a major shift to a situation that had the city paying the team half of a million dollars over the first seven years to continue to appear.
Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera said over the offseason that making the trip didn’t make that much sense for the team financially.
“The problem with the short [travel] period is it’s not, from what I’m learning, it’s not financially equitable. You’re there a short, brief time then you gotta move everything and get yourself set up again.
On Saturday, August 6th the Commanders will also hold a training camp practice event at FedEx Field from 6:45 to 9:00 pm with the gates opening at four. The free event is open to the public and fans can claim tickets to sit in the lower bowl on a first-come-first-served basis.
Fans will be able to attend training camp practices at the facilities in Ashburn but will have to go through a fan lottery process to get the passes. While the team is planning on letting everyone know more about how this process will work closer to the opening of camp, you can sign up to be notified.
“Our inaugural training camp as the Commanders will not only offer our fans front row seats as the team prepares for the kickoff of the 2022 season but also will deliver these experiences across our Commanders community. We are excited to provide a variety of fan-facing opportunities across the region so fans can come out, watch the team prepare, interact with the players and coaching staff, and join in on the excitement celebrating our first season in this new era,” said team president Jason Wright.
Commanders camp this year will be an opportunity for fans to get their first chance to see new quarterback Carson Wentz in action before the 2022 season starts in September. Hopefully, the team has star wide receiver and team captain Terry McLaurin under contract before camp opens so fans have a chance to see the team’s best player.
Team captain Jonathan Allen was asked during min-camp if he’d spoken with McLaurin. His response gives some insight into how Terry’s teammates view him.
“One-hundred percent. Like, it’s tough. You know, everyone says don’t take it personal, but your whole life is about to change, so it’s a very personal experience. From both sides; the organizational side and the player’s side. I’m always gonna side with the player, cuz I’m a player, but I’m sure they’re going to handle it the right way. Terry’s a guy you want to build a team around and he represents everything we want to build around here, so I’m confident we’ll get something done.” “At the end of the day, he’s got to handle his business and I understand that. We’re trying to build a lot of great things here and he has to do what’s best for him first and foremost, so we get that . . . We all know what kind of guy Terry is. There’s going to be some tough negotiations. It is what it is. It’s just the business.”
As you can tell from Allen’s quote, McLaurin’s teammates don’t seem all that worried about the process the current contract negotiation has caused. They all have embraced what he brings to the team now, and in the future, once his deal is finalized.
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