Because the Fred Davis story took up all of my evening and prevented me from getting you a timely practice report, I’ll spare you the notes and quotes portion. They’re old news by now in today’s Twitter age, anyway.

So let’s jump to some observations, shall we? These are the players and plays that stood out in Wednesday’s practice. As always, please remember that this is just a snapshot of the session.

*WR Devin Thomas beat CB Byron Westbrook on a double move early in practice. He was open deep, but the quarterback (I couldn’t tell who it was) checked down.

As we arrive at Thursday’s official end of training camp, I believe one of the biggest storylines is Thomas’ status. He’s still listed on the depth chart as a member of the third string, but I still believe he’s got a legitimate chance to start opposite Santana Moss. However, you just can’t ignore the inconsistency that continues to plague him. Of all my players to watch as we proceed here, he might top the list.

*Rookie center Erik Cook released too early on a screen pass to the right, allowing NT Howard Green an easy path to QB Richard Bartel. It would have been a sack. Coaches have been evaluating Cook at center the past few days; he played guard earlier in camp. I can’t say he’s really stood out.

*FB Mike Sellers and special teams coach Danny Smith had some fun with WR/PR Brandon Banks. Banks was surrounded by a group of defenders during a punt return drill included no blockers. After Banks went to the ground, FB Mike Sellers jumped on him and pinned him like a wrestler. Smith then ran over and yelled: “You can get out of it with that other team (Buffalo), but you can’t get out of it with us!”

*DE Jeremy Jarmon got around T Clint Oldenburg on a pass rush. Jarmon also ranks among the players to watch this week. He hasn’t proven in camp that he can consistently beat anyone that’s a first- or second-stringer. His required weight gain and return from injury continue to affect him, but how much leeway that gets him at the cutdown date is uncertain.

*CB Carlos Rogers is one of my MVPs of camp. He looks comfortable, confident and capable. (You love that alliteration!) Shifty WR Brandon Banks had a two-way go out of the slot, but Rogers stayed close to his hip when Banks broke in about seven yards downfield. If Rogers can continue to demonstrate quickness and good anticipation skills in the slot, he’s gonna be a real force there. Later, he made a long run to break up a pass intended for WR Anthony Armstrong near the left sideline.

*CB Kevin Barnes is another player who emerges from camp looking like he’s taken a big step forward. I was quite impressed by how he closed on WR Bobby Wade’s slant route and broke it up. I’m convinced that Barnes’ cover skills are on a higher level this season. I need to see him tackle in games to be totally sold. We know he can lay the wood, now let’s see it. (Where does that expression come from, by the way? Anybody?)

*I love watching RB Clinton Portis pass block. He was in the backfield for one pass play when TE Chris Cooley went in motion from the right side of the formation to the left. When Cooley vacated the right side, FS Kareem Moore ran swiftly toward the line of scrimmage to blitz. Moore timed the snap count well, but Portis made the read and was waiting for him. Portis stopped Moore cold.

*CB DeAngelo Hall stripped WR Anthony Armstrong of the ball after Armstrong made a sliding catch and got up. Armstrong leaves camp in the mix for one of the final receiver spots. Sliding catches help. Fumbles don’t.

*Practice got very intense when the offense and defense squared off practicing first-and-goal from the 1. It was really cool to watch from just a few feet away because guys were going hard. Though CB DeAngelo Hall isn’t part of the goal line defense package, he was hollering from the sideline as the defense dominated with stop after stop. Finally, RB Keiland Williams punched in a touchdown. He flipped the ball to Hall in celebration. Classic.

*RB Larry Johnson was the main goal-line back. It’s what we’ve seen since OTAs. Note it, fantasy football owners.

*The defense was so good during goal-line work that I’ll just throw a couple names out there: SS LaRon Landry made a tackle for a loss. ILB London Fletcher filled a gap to stuff RB Larry Johnson, who tried to run off right tackle. OLB Andre Carter would have sacked QB Donovan McNabb on a play-action pass. ILBs Perry Riley and H.B. Blades crunched RB Willie Parker for a loss. Overall, very impressive by the defense.

*SS Reed Doughty made a great read to intercept a pass that QB Rex Grossman intended for WR Santana Moss near the right sideline. Doughty broke hard and grabbed the ill-advised throw just in time. He also played in the first-string goal line package, which dominated the offense when they practiced first-and-goal plays from the 1-yard line. Doughty excels around the line of scrimmage, and he was quite physical in goal line work.

*RT Stephon Heyer had a tough time with LOLB Lorenzo Alexander in team drills. Heyer had a good showing at practice earlier this week and played pretty well against Buffalo, but Wednesday he appeared to lack speed or athleticism. Alexander drove him back into QB Rex Grossman on SS Reed Doughty’s interception, and he beat him to the outside shortly thereafter. It’s interesting: LOLB Andre Carter earned his promotion to the first team by looking good against Heyer. Now it seems it’s Alexander’s turn.

*TE Fred Davis lined up outside WR Shay Hodge in one passing formation. It was kind of strange to see a tight end split wider than any receiver, but Davis has that athleticism to make plays on the outside. His routes are crisp.

*Howard Green, the fourth-string nose tackle, got more reps Wednesday with Ma’ake Kemoeatu (shoulder) and Albert Haynesworth (dehydration). He did well on one pass play I saw. He didn’t get a strong initial push, but he read the quarterback well and timed his jump to knock the pass down. Later, C Casey Rabach drove him way out to the left on a running play.

*S Lendy Holmes did well disguising a blitz. He waited until QB John Beck looked away while under center and then sprinted up to the line. He timed the snap well and got into the backfield easily for what would have been a sack.

*QB Rex Grossman sensed CB DeAngelo Hall’s blitz from the right side and threw to the receiver Hall lined up to cover, Anthony Armstrong. Good hot read by Grossman for an easy completion.

*NT Ma’ake Kemoeatu (shoulder) stuck around after practice and ran gassers. It’s impressive to watch the big man run. He can get his 6-5, 350-pound frame moving pretty well.