The Washington Commanders finalized their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday with some mild surprises. Washington didn’t cut any former stars or high draft picks, but the Commanders left some positions a bit thin on the initial roster.
Not to worry, says head coach Ron Rivera, who said Tuesday, “we are not done.”
While the Commanders will likely be monitoring the waiver wire and inquiring about potential trades to upgrade the roster main roster, they will also be busy filling out their 16-man practice squad.
The Commanders cut 25 players on Tuesday. Last season, Washington’s initial practice squad was made up primarily of players it released and could follow the same theme in 2022. After all, keeping players familiar with your system, who have spent the offseason and training camp practicing with your team, makes sense.
Here are nine recently released players who the Commanders should re-sign to the practice squad if they clear waivers.
RB Jaret Patterson
Even if Brian Robinson Jr. is ready to go early in the season, the Commanders should bring back the local hero, Patterson. He proved in limited snaps last season, and in the preseason, he can play. It’s always good to keep an extra running back around, considering the amount of punishment they take regularly.
WR Kyric McGowan
Kyric McGowan looked explosive early in the preseason when he received opportunities. He was a good college kick returner, meaning he could give the Commanders an option there. McGowan is a player worth developing.
OT Alex Akingbulu
Alex Akingbulu is a young prospect who signed with Washington early in training camp. He played a lot in the preseason. While he is a raw prospect, he has terrific size and good feet. Offensive line coach John Matsko loves a good project. Akingbulu is the perfect player to keep and develop.
G Wes Martin
While Wes Martin didn’t quite live up to his status as a fourth-round pick in 2019, he did start several games for Washington. Martin was cut last summer and re-signed to the practice squad. The Giants plucked him from Washington’s practice squad. Washington never wanted to lose Martin. Experience offensive line depth is critical for every NFL team.
DE William Bradley-King
The second-year pass rusher from Baylor had a solid camp. Bradley-King has solid size and athleticism. He has a high motor, as evidenced by his effort in the preseason. He received some snaps for the Commanders last season, and the former draft pick is another good candidate for the practice squad. In case of an injury, you can easily promote Bradley-King.
DT Tyler Clark
The Commanders could use more depth at defensive tackle. Losing Tim Settle and Matt Ioannidis hurt the roster. While rookie Phidarian Mathis will be a terrific player, Washington could use another experienced interior defender on the practice squad. Clark is still a young player with some NFL experience.
LB Khaleke Hudson
While Khaleke Hudson never made that leap at linebacker, he was valuable on special teams and in a reserve role. Hudson is a terrific athlete who knows the defense. He is an easy pick for the practice squad.
LB/S Ferrod Gardner
Ferrod Gardner was an intriguing undrafted free agent. He plays that hybrid safety/linebacker role and the Commanders liked him. Unfortunately for him, Kam Curl, Darrick Forrest and Percy Butler were all ahead of him. If he returns on the practice squad, he can pick up valuable practice experience for a role in the future.
CB Danny Johnson
Come on, you know Danny Johnson is coming back, right? Johnson has proven to be a valuable reserve in recent years. He is also good on special teams. He has been cut several times and spent time on the practice squad but always finds his way back. Johnston struggled in the preseason but did play well at times during the 2021 season.
