The Washington Commanders entered training camp with a few injury-related absences, but the biggest development was the one they avoided. Three players were placed on the physically unable to perform list, and another was put on the active non-football injury list, though all four can be activated at any time.
The real win for Washington was Tim Settle Jr. staying off that list entirely.
Settle returned to Washington for a second stint this offseason, but an injury kept him out of the team’s early offseason work. With Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles still far away, the Commanders chose caution. That patience now looks worthwhile, because Settle is heading into camp without any injury designation.
That matters for a defense that appears headed for a major shift under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Washington is projected to move into a 3-4 base front, a setup that depends on sturdy interior linemen occupying blockers and letting the edge rushers and linebackers go hunting.
Settle fits that mold. He could line up at nose tackle, where he has shown encouraging production before.
If that’s how Jones plans to deploy him, with Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw as the 3-4 ends and Johnny Newton in the key rotational role, the Commanders could have a disruptive group in the middle of the defense.
Settle’s value won’t always jump off the page. He’s the kind of player who does the heavy lifting in the trenches, the stuff that usually gets overlooked.
He’s strong against the run and uses violent hands to make life miserable for offensive linemen. For Jones’ scheme to work the way Washington wants, Settle needs to be at his best.
The good news is that he’ll be on the practice field from the start, even if the Commanders handle him carefully after all the time he missed earlier in the offseason. Washington needs its veterans and its new additions to contribute right away, and Settle’s presence gives Dan Quinn one less concern.
There are still questions around Dorance Armstrong Jr., Deatrich Wise Jr., and second-year cornerback Trey Amos, but Settle’s return is a welcome one for a team trying to get its summer on track.
He has some catching up to do, and he knows it.
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The real question is where he fits once camp starts. Kaliakmanis is expected to compete for a backup role while learning the offense, but the more immediate battle may be for the third spot behind Mariota, with Sam Hartman also in the mix. His profile is a little different from the quarterbacks around him, which could make him a useful long-term piece if Washington finds a way to tailor his role within the system. [Read more 🡒]