Commanders’ new addition, wide receiver K.J. Osborn, has arrived and has hit the playbook.
WUSA9 in Washington reported that Osborn communicated he was picked up by the Commanders Wednesday afternoon, caught a flight Wednesday night, arrived around midnight, and was up by 5 a.m., getting to work on his Commanders’ playbook.
Catching only seven passes and one touchdown with the Patriots, who are 3-10, Osborn has a very upbeat attitude after being signed by the Commanders, who are 8-5 and in the seventh-seed NFC Playoff position.
Osborn was at the Commanders’ Ashburn facility for Thursday’s practice. “It’s different. I mean, I think it’s up to me right now to get to learning the playbook, to catch up to these guys. They have put in a lot of work, going back all the way to OTAs. This group has been together.”
Patriots new WR K.J. Osborn last season:
– 48 catches
– 540 yards
– 3 touchdowns
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) March 17, 2024
Acknowledging that he must take responsibility for working hard and learning the playbook, Osborn believes that current Commanders will accept him if they see his hard work and preparation. He talked of how he needs to be “putting my head down and grinding.”
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who no doubt misses Noah Brown and Austin Ekeler in his offensive schemes, believes in Osborn.
“He’s a guy who can play inside, outside and give you a lot, and so we got to see how he fits in with us and try to get him up to speed.”
Seeing Brown was in some categories either the second or third leading receiver for the Commanders this season, another injury could make this an urgent situation. Kingsbury added, “From what I’ve seen on tape, he’s definitely a guy that we can use.”
Brown suffered an internal injury, reported to be a kidney injury, against the Titans as the Commanders rolled to a 42-19 victory, raising their record to 8-5 and also snapping their three-game losing streak.
The Texans actually released Brown on the final roster cutdowns to a 53-man roster. The Commanders grabbed Brown quickly, and he made a significant contribution to the Commanders this season.
