Commanders Camp: Emmanuel Forbes Injury Update, Sam Howell Watch - Notebook

While the Washington Commanders first-round NFL Draft pick's groin injury is considered minor, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes' situation is making an immediate impact.

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders aimed to land a difference-maker in the first round of the NFL Draft by selecting ballhawk cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

Nabbing an interception in rookie minicamp and on a consistent basis during OTAs and early in training camp, Forbes has looked every bit the playmaker the Commanders wanted when they took him over Oregon prospect Christian Gonzalez.

The concern everyone had with Washington taking Forbes wasn't ability - it was health, and after suffering what's being described as a minor groin injury on Friday, that concern grew to worry in a heartbeat.

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE Rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes was on the practice field Sunday for the 10th day of training camp, but he was limited to just individual and position-group work after suffering a slight injury to his groin area on Friday. 

With Forbes on the shelf for team drills, Washington's secondary took on a new look - that was more of a throwback to last season. 

Benjamin St-Juste moved outside opposite Kendall Fuller and veteran slot defender Danny Johnson stepped in to fill the spot normally held by him.

Perhaps connected, perhaps not, quarterback Sam Howell had one of his more consistent days passing in 11-on-11 drills and even completed 70 percent of his passes in the final set of the day. 

While Forbes' absence didn't completely torpedo the secondary that has proven to be deep this preseason, there was certainly a reduction in the number of aggressive plays being made by the defensive backfield. 

Coincidence or not, the Commanders will certainly look to get their first-round cornerback on the field again when the time is right. 

PLAY OF THE DAY On the first play of the fourth set of 11-on-11 drills, Howell took the snap from center Nick Gates and dropped back to scan the defense. 

Not immediately finding an open option running in the secondary Howell rolled to the right side of the field looking for a new sight picture in order to make the right throw. 

When he finally pulled the trigger he threw back to the left in the middle of the field and found receiver Dyami Brown who had found open space while his quarterback rolled out.

In all, Howell had about five seconds to sit comfortably and scan the field and might have been the single best group rep by the first-team offensive line in what could have been their best day of training camp thus far.

"Kudos to the offensive line," Rivera said following practice. "There's a lot of positives that we're going to get from this...We got an opportunity to really go through some situational football as well."

HOWELL WATCH: DAY 10 On the 10th day of our starting quarterback watch, Howell completed 17 of 27 pass attempts, completing 63 percent of his throws. 

Getting beyond the stats, Howell completed two of his six pass attempts in a two-minute period that led to successful 42-yard field goal kicks by Joey Slye and Michael Badgley.

Within the four incomplete passes, however, were two throwaways to preserve the clock and not take unnecessary risks as the team worked through a scenario where a field goal would win the game. 

And those are two incompletions you'll be happy to take if it means not one, but both of the kickers in your competition were able to nail game-winning attempts from beyond 40 yards.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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