The Washington Commanders had a flurry of roster moves on Monday as they prepare for a quick turnaround and a Christmas Day showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. With injuries piling up and depth being tested, the front office wasted no time reshuffling the deck.
Let’s start with the quarterback room, which has taken another hit. With Marcus Mariota dealing with both hand and quad injuries sustained in Saturday’s loss to the Eagles - including noticeable swelling in his throwing hand - the Commanders brought back a familiar face: Jeff Driskel.
Driskel, who served as Washington’s No. 3 quarterback last season, was signed off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. If Mariota can’t go on Thursday, the plan is for veteran Josh Johnson to get the start, with Driskel stepping in as the backup.
To make room for Driskel, Washington placed right guard Sam Cosmi on injured reserve. It’s a tough blow for a player who came into the year with high expectations.
Cosmi had already missed the first six games recovering from offseason knee surgery, and now a concussion suffered against Philadelphia officially ends his season. When healthy, Cosmi is one of Washington’s most reliable linemen - losing him this late in the year only adds to the team’s offensive line challenges.
But the roster shake-up didn’t stop there.
Rookie wide receiver and return specialist Jaylin Lane was also placed on season-ending IR after taking a hit to the lower leg while fielding a punt. Lane had shown flashes of promise, particularly in the return game, and his absence leaves a noticeable gap in special teams. To fill that void, the Commanders claimed veteran return man Jamal Agnew off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons.
Agnew brings experience and explosiveness to a unit that’s already been hit hard - remember, Washington lost primary kickoff returner Luke McCaffrey earlier this season. Agnew, now 30, has carved out a solid NFL career as a special teams weapon.
Since entering the league as a fifth-round pick by the Lions in 2017, he’s scored four punt return touchdowns and two more on kickoffs. He was named a first-team All-Pro as a rookie and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022, so the Commanders are getting a proven playmaker who could immediately impact field position - a crucial edge in a short-week divisional matchup.
On the defensive side, Washington also placed veteran defensive tackle Eddie Goldman on IR. Goldman had been a key piece in the interior rotation, especially against the run.
To plug that hole, the Commanders claimed Shy Tuttle off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Tuttle is a stout run defender in his own right, having spent his early years with the Saints before stints in Carolina and Tennessee.
Much like Goldman, Tuttle doesn’t flash on the stat sheet, but he’s the kind of interior presence who can anchor the line and free up linebackers to make plays.
With the Cowboys coming to town on Thursday for a Christmas Day clash, the timing of these moves is critical. Washington is clearly trying to patch holes quickly and keep the roster competitive down the stretch. They’ll close out the regular season in Week 18 with another divisional test - a rematch against the Eagles - but first, it’s all eyes on Dallas.
Injuries have forced the Commanders to adapt on the fly, and Monday’s moves reflect a team still fighting, still adjusting, and still looking for answers as the season winds down.