The Washington Commanders weren’t finished after trimming their roster to 53. General manager Adam Peters still had areas to patch, and the latest move shows he’s keeping an eye on cornerback depth.
According to reports, Washington signed Terrell Smith to its practice squad. He didn’t make the Chicago Bears’ roster, but the Commanders saw enough in his summer to bring him in and see whether he can become part of the answer.
For now, Smith is a depth play with a chance to grow into more. His arrival gives Washington another option if Trey Amos needs more time before coming off injured reserve.
Amos has practiced once in full since November last year, and his rookie season ended with a fractured fibula before an ankle sprain interrupted his second practice. That leaves the Commanders in a tricky spot, especially with the season approaching fast.
Smith isn’t a cure-all, but Washington clearly felt it couldn’t just wait things out. He brings size and athleticism, and the former Minnesota standout appears to fit what Daronte Jones wants to run on defense.
The timeline is tight. Smith has a couple of weeks to get up to speed before Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and if he picks things up quickly, he could be in line for a game-day call-up.
If not, the Commanders can afford to be patient. That’s part of the value of stashing a player on the practice squad.
There’s still more for Peters to sort through. Smith could help, and Fabian Moreau re-signing after being released adds another layer, but Washington may not be done adding. The veteran market remains open, and a trade can’t be ruled out either.
In Other News...
Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
As the Commanders wrapped up their 53-man roster and practice squad, they also spent the back end of roster-cut day bringing back familiar pieces and hunting for help from outside the building. Washington re-signed 12 players it had waived or released, then added five newcomers, a group that included veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom and offensive tackle Esa Pole.
Pole is the more interesting addition for the line conversation because he has already been through a bit of a whirlwind. The former Chiefs and Jets blocker made his NFL debut last season, started four games at left tackle, then was waived before Washington brought him in, giving the Commanders another tackle option at a spot where depth can disappear fast. The real question now is whether he can turn that opening into something bigger once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
Brandon Aiyuk has spent part of the summer sending Washington a message in plain sight, showing up on social media in Commanders gear and making it clear where he would like to land. For a while, that kind of public courting might have at least sparked a real conversation in Ashburn, especially with a talent like Aiyuk still under contract with the 49ers and looking for a path to a new team.
Instead, Washingtons side of the equation has been settled for some time. The Commanders have not shown interest in signing him, and general manager Adam Peters has already made it clear veteran Stefon Diggs was the preferred option all along. Aiyuk still has not applied for reinstatement, which leaves his NFL future hanging in the balance while the team he keeps signaling to has moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Is Forcing A New Commanders Roster Debate
Adam Peters has opened the door for undrafted free agents in a way that has started to change the conversation around how Washington should build its roster. Under the Commanders current approach, those players are getting more real chances to compete than they were in previous years, and a few have already turned that opportunity into roster spots or meaningful roles.
The broader point is what makes the debate interesting. Washington is being viewed more like the Ravens now, a team with a long track record of finding contributors after the draft, and that has complicated the old argument that the Commanders needed to stockpile more late-round picks and UDFAs. Peters is giving the franchise a different kind of depth strategy, and the question is whether it can keep producing enough hidden value to matter once the roster gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]