Josh Conerly Jr. has made some encouraging strides after a baptism of fire over his opening few weeks with the Washington Commanders. But his inconsistent outing against the Dallas Cowboys represented a step back in no uncertain terms.
And there was one Cowboys player who could see it a mile away.
The Commanders believe Conerly can become a massive piece of the long-term puzzle. Adam Peters had no hesitation when the offensive tackle was there for the taking at No. 29 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he earned the right to start opposite left tackle Laremy Tunsil in Week 1.
Jadeveon Clowney blasted Commanders rookie Josh Conerly, but the tape tells a different story
It’s been a rollercoaster for Conerly; there’s no getting away from that. He’s had to cope with some of the league’s most ferocious pass-rushers during his early transition. The former Oregon star has had some good moments, and there are times when he looks overwhelmed.
This is all part of the process. The Commanders are comfortable enough taking the rough with the smooth. But there is no doubt Conerly would like to have some reps back from his outing at AT&T Stadium.
Conerly wasn’t alone in performing below expectations. Aside from returning right guard Sam Cosmi, the entire protection crumbled versus a defensive front that hadn’t exactly been dominant beforehand. Jadeveon Clowney spent a lot of time versus the rookie, and he wasn’t particularly complimentary on the sidelines, which was made public by an NFL media release.
“Dude can’t block nobody. Dude sucks. I just ain’t on him enough.”
Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney did manage to secure five tackles, one sack, two pass breakups, and one tackle for loss during the contest. Still, upon further examination of the game film, Conerly managed to hold his own against the one-generational college prospect out of South Carolina.
His reps were pretty solid. Conerly completely dominated one particular collision, so there wasn’t much weight behind Clowney’s statement to his teammates. The stats say one thing, but the film says something else entirely.
Either way, this should serve as decent bulletin board material for Conerly moving forward. Someone should show him this footage, because there is nothing more motivating than silencing a hated rival.
Clowney is no stranger to underachievement, either. He was touted as the next great defensive end in college en route to becoming the No. 1 overall pick. He has never had a double-digit sack season and gained a reputation for being a mercenary in recent years. He also lasted one season with the Carolina Panthers before being cut prematurely, and no team came calling for months.
Conerly is doing just fine. And unlike Clowney, he’s only going to grow.
