The Commanders have added a familiar name back into the mix, and that move tightens the path for rookie wideout Jaden Bradley.
Washington brought veteran receiver Van Jefferson Jr. back onto the practice squad, a decision that strengthens the team’s depth and gives it a more reliable fallback if injuries hit. It also makes the climb a little steeper for Bradley, who had been trying to carve out a role as the top reserve option behind the team’s established targets.
Bradley turned heads in his first offseason with Washington. The undrafted UNLV product flashed repeatedly during training camp and the preseason, enough to build some real momentum, but not enough to crack the 53-man roster. He did land on the practice squad, which was the best realistic outcome for him, but Jefferson’s return immediately changes the picture.
Jefferson brings more experience and more proven production than anyone outside of Stefon Diggs or Terry McLaurin. For Washington, that makes him a useful insurance policy and a player who already knows offensive coordinator David Blough’s scheme. With so much still unsettled behind McLaurin and Diggs, the move makes plenty of sense from the Commanders’ side.
For Bradley, though, the short-term opportunity took a hit.
That doesn’t mean his development has stalled. McLaurin took Bradley under his wing this summer and praised his work ethic and willingness to learn, and those traits remain central to his next steps. His job now is straightforward: keep improving, keep absorbing the offense, and keep earning trust.
Washington clearly believes there’s something there. The team signed Bradley after the draft, then kept him around on the practice squad once he cleared waivers. The expectation now is that this will be a redshirt year unless he makes a dramatic leap, but that doesn’t change the bigger outlook.
If Bradley keeps progressing, the Commanders could still reward him later on. A call-up down the road remains possible, and a reserve/futures contract when the 2026 campaign ends would be another step forward. For now, the goal is simpler: stay in the building, keep learning, and be ready if his chance comes.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Added Receiver Depth That Could Matter Faster Than Expected
The Commanders added another layer to their receiver room by signing Van Jefferson Jr. to the practice squad as they turn the page into Week 1 prep. Jefferson had turned in a solid training camp, but he was the odd man out when Washington finalized its 53-man roster, with Luke McCaffrey getting the nod instead.
Even so, Jefferson never felt far from the picture, and this move gives Washington a familiar contingency if the position group gets hit by injuries or simply needs more production. For a roster still sorting out its early-season depth, it is the kind of addition that could matter sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Treylon Burks Just Got The Commanders Opportunity He Needed
Treylon Burks entered the week with a clean slate in Washington, and the Commanders made the message even clearer when they released their Week 1 depth chart for the opener against the Eagles. Burks was listed as a starting wide receiver alongside Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, a notable sign for a player who arrived on a one-year deal and is looking for a fresh start after a difficult run with the Tennessee Titans.
The opportunity goes beyond a spot on the first depth chart. Under coordinator David Blough, Burks is expected to have a meaningful role in the offense, giving him a chance to show he can still be part of a long-term plan if he makes the most of this opening stretch. For Washington, it is a low-risk way to see whether a former first-round talent can finally find the right fit. [Read more 🡒]
Ron Riveras Biggest Commanders Draft Miss Still Hurts Washingtons Secondary
Christian Gonzalezs new deal in New England only sharpens the memory of what Washington passed on in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Patriots cornerback has now reset the market at his position with a four-year, $135 million extension, a reminder of how quickly the wrong draft-night call can echo through a roster. For the Commanders, the contrast is hard to miss, because the player they chose instead has already moved on after a brief, rocky stint in Washington.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was waived by the Commanders and is now with the Los Angeles Rams, leaving Washington still searching for answers at cornerback. The secondary has been a persistent concern, and Gonzalezs rise only adds weight to a decision that already looks like one of Ron Riveras most painful misses. What was once a debate about fit and upside now sits as a clear illustration of how much the Commanders could have used the steadier option. [Read more 🡒]