The Washington Commanders have dipped back into familiar territory in the secondary, bringing back Fabian Moreau as another veteran option at cornerback.
Moreau, a former third-round pick by Washington in the 2017 NFL draft, is returning after spending the first four seasons of his career with the team. He started 18 games during that stretch before moving on once his rookie contract expired. Since leaving Washington, he has played for four different teams over the last five seasons.
The move comes as Washington continues to deal with depth issues at cornerback during training camp. Trey Amos, another Day 2 pick, is still working his way back from a broken fibula suffered in his rookie season. Amos was also reportedly dealing with soft tissue issues, which put him on the active/PUP list.
Washington announced the corresponding roster move, with CB Ahkello Witherspoon placed on the Reserve/Retired List.
Moreau spent the last two seasons with Minnesota, though his role there was limited. He did not start a game for the Vikings and was on the field for 28.2% of their defensive snaps last season. Over his career, he has also played for Atlanta, the Giants, and Denver.
There’s also a familiar face waiting for him on the coaching staff. Moreau is reuniting with Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, who was Minnesota’s DBs coach and pass game coordinator during Moreau’s time with the Vikings.
In 2024, Moreau appeared in seven games for Minnesota without a start. The year before, he played in 11 games for the Vikings and also did not start. His most active seasons came earlier in his career, including a 2021 campaign with Atlanta in which he started all 16 games and finished with 61 combined tackles, 11 passes defensed, and one interception.
Across his NFL career, Moreau has appeared in 124 games with 56 starts. He has seven interceptions, 45 passes defensed, 322 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit. For Washington specifically, he played in 60 games with 18 starts and recorded six interceptions, 14 passes defensed, and 125 combined tackles.
In Other News...
Commanders Homecoming Trend Comes With Pressure Fans Can Already Feel
Playing close to home can sound like a dream, but for NFL players with local roots, it comes with a different kind of pressure. Around the Commanders, that reality has shown up in the conversations around players such as Nick Cross and Stefon Diggs, both of whom have ties to the Washington area and understand what it means to perform in front of familiar faces, old friends and the same communities that watched them grow up.
Chase Youngs experience offered another reminder that a hometown fit is never simple. The comfort of being near family and friends can be real, but so can the expectations that come with it, both on the field and off it. For players weighing personal and professional factors, the Commanders homecoming appeal can feel like a major selling point, even as the local spotlight makes every step a little heavier. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Just Raised The Stakes For Washingtons Cornerback Battle
Trey Amos has been one of the more closely watched pieces of Washingtons cornerback picture this summer, even while he has stayed off the field. The Commanders are still working him back from the fibula fracture he suffered last season, and the team has been cautious about bringing him along too quickly as training camp gets rolling.
Head coach Dan Quinn is set to check on Amoss progress soon, with that evaluation expected to help determine how much longer the rookie-style wait might last before he can get back to football work. Amos has sounded confident about his return, but Washingtons approach suggests it is willing to let the recovery timeline play out the right way before adding him back into a competition that already has real stakes. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Could Still Make Jayden Daniels A Lot More Dangerous
A veteran receiver with a proven track record is still sitting on the market, and the Commanders have at least done their homework. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported Washington has had contact with free agent Stefon Diggs, which keeps the idea alive that the team could add another established target for Jayden Daniels as it looks to make the second-year quarterback even tougher to defend.
Diggs, who turns 33 in November, is reportedly looking for a one-year deal and has made it known he would like to land in Washington. For now, though, the interest appears to be more exploratory than urgent, with no sign of intensified negotiations yet, leaving the Commanders with a potentially enticing option still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]