The Washington Commanders are adding another name to the backfield mix, signing former New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal to the practice squad.
Neal, 23, arrives in Washington after previous stops with the Saints and the Minnesota Vikings. For him, the move is about more than just changing teams - it’s another shot to get back on the field after injuries have repeatedly interrupted his NFL start.
His rookie season in New Orleans offered a glimpse of what he could do when healthy. Neal played in 10 games and started three, finishing with 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, plus 104 receiving yards on 17 catches. But an ankle injury late in the year cut that season short, and he missed the Saints’ final three games.
This offseason was supposed to bring a bigger role. Instead, a pair of hamstring issues derailed those plans, landing him on injured reserve before New Orleans eventually moved on with an injury settlement.
Neal later landed with the Vikings in late September in search of another opening, but that stay was short-lived. Minnesota released him just before its Week 5 game against the Saints.
Now he gets a fresh opportunity in Washington, where he has not yet appeared in a game this season and will need to work his way up from the practice squad.
The Commanders, meanwhile, are trying to steady themselves after a sluggish start. They’re 1-3-1 heading into Week 6 after last week’s 27-27 tie with the New York Giants, and they’ll head into a tough Monday night road matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Neal’s addition gives Washington another running back option, but how much he can help right away will depend on his health and how quickly he picks up the system. For now, it’s a new door opening for a player still trying to prove he can stay on the field long enough to stick.
In Other News...
Commanders Have Another Officiating Controversy Fans Wont Let Go
The Commanders left Week 5 with more than just a loss to the Giants, because the officiating became part of the conversation again. A key call wiped out an interception by cornerback Amik Robertson, turning what looked like a swing play into another sore point for a team that feels like it has seen too many of these moments already this season.
Robertson did not let the frustration sit for long, taking to social media to vent about the quality of the officiating and pointing to multiple instances this year he believes have hurt Washington. The broader backdrop only adds to the irritation, with recent NFL officiating disputes and player confrontations making every questionable flag feel bigger, and this one is sure to linger with Commanders fans for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Let A Winnable Game Slip Away With Brutal Late Mistake
For much of Sunday, Washington looked like it had done enough to leave with a much-needed road win, building a two-touchdown cushion before the game turned into a fourth-quarter scramble. The Giants, powered by Jameis Winstons 326-yard, three-touchdown outing, stormed back to force overtime, turning what had been a comfortable afternoon for the Commanders into a tense finish.
Even after the lead evaporated, Washington still had a clear path to escape with a victory, only to let the moment slip away in the final seconds. The late clock management left the Commanders settling for a tie instead of a win, an outcome that will linger because it was there to be taken. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Have One More Reason To Revisit That Giants Tie
The Giants 27-27 tie with Washington is getting another look, and not just because divisional games tend to linger. Cam Skattebo, who was at the center of the overtime turnover sequence, acknowledged that the ball security lapse was his mistake and said he has to do better moving forward. For Commanders fans, it is one more reminder that the game was there to be claimed late, even if it ended up as a split.
Skattebo framed the finish as a lesson for the Giants, stressing the need to protect the football as they move on to face the Saints. New York still sits atop the NFC East, which only adds to the sense that Washington left something behind in a game where the margin was razor thin and the ending never quite felt settled. [Read more 🡒]