Surprising Commanders' rookie continues to 'pop'
Commanders' rookie edge Joshua Josephs is already making a name for himself.
The Washington Commanders have added six players to their 2026 NFL Draft class, with linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Antonio Williams receiving significant attention. However, fifth-round edge rusher Joshua Josephs has also made a notable impact during training camp. Josephs, picked 147th overall by the Commanders out of Tennessee, has demonstrated impressive skills in multiple practices.
His exceptional length and wingspan have caught the attention of the team, who believe he is still in the early stages of his potential as a pass rusher. Despite only limited career experience, playing 48 games for the Volunteers in the SEC, Josephs has already stood out in various drills and one-on-one matchups. Mitchell Tischler, a reporter from Monumental Sports and "Beltway Football" podcast, shared his thoughts on Josephs, noting that it is rare to see a fifth-round pick make such a strong impression so early in camp.
With the Commanders' edge rushers being among the weakest units in the league in 2025, Josephs is being seen as a potential game-changer. He is currently expected to be a bench player, but if he can earn valuable snaps off the bench as a rookie, it would be a significant achievement for General Manager Adam Peters.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
