The Washington Commanders made a roster tweak Thursday that says plenty about where their attention is right now: cornerback help was the priority.
Isaac Yiadom was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, and defensive tackle Ricky Barber was released in the corresponding move. With the team dealing with issues at corner, Washington chose to add depth in the secondary and give up a spot along the defensive line.
Yiadom brings a veteran presence to the room as the Commanders get ready for Dallas. Denver drafted him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boston College, and he has since carved out a long NFL run.
He has played in 118 games with 34 starts, spending time with the Broncos, Giants, Packers, Texans, Saints, and 49ers. In that stretch, he has three interceptions and 32 passes defended.
His most productive season came in New Orleans in 2023, when he started eight games and posted 14 passes defended along with an interception.
Barber, meanwhile, loses his place on the 53-man roster after working his way into the team’s plans this summer. There was also a separate development on the defensive line Thursday, with Javon Kinlaw missing practice because of a sore back, though there’s no indication the two situations are connected.
Dallas brings a different kind of passing-game test than Philadelphia did, and it’s still unclear whether Yiadom will be active Sunday. Even so, his promotion to the 53-man roster suggests defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wanted another coverage option available if Washington needs more flexibility.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Linebacker Concern Heading Into Dallas
Washington added veteran offensive lineman Lucas Patrick to bolster depth at guard and center, a practical move for a team still sorting out its interior line options early in the season. To create the roster space, the Commanders placed linebacker Jordan Magee on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1, a hit to a position group that already tends to matter more when the schedule turns physical.
Magees absence leaves Washington thinner on the second level heading into Dallas, especially with the club also managing other injury statuses and shuffling bodies around the practice squad. The team responded by signing two linebackers to the practice squad, but the bigger question is how much of the defensive workload can be covered in the short term if the injury situation keeps moving in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Owens Breakout Just Gave Commanders Fans One Immediate Concern
Tyler Owens turned a quiet role into one of the Commanders early talking points in the season opener against the Eagles, when the safety and special teams gunner made a notable play that quickly spread online and even earned him the Angry Runs award. For a Washington team that values energy and edge on special teams, it was the kind of moment that can help a depth player stand out fast.
Owens afternoon also ended with the kind of update fans did not want to hear, as he left the game with an ankle injury that Dan Quinn confirmed afterward. Owens later said he was feeling good despite the issue, but Washingtons training staff will be watching his recovery closely, because a breakout play only matters if the player who made it can stay on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Secondary May Be Without Trey Amos Longer Than Expected
Trey Amos has already landed on injured reserve, and the early read on his recovery suggests Washington may have to wait longer than it first hoped. The rookie corner is not expected back before Week 5 at the earliest, and Dan Quinn said it is still too early to know whether Amos will be ready the moment he becomes eligible to return.
The bigger issue for the Commanders is the time he will need once he is cleared to practice again. Quinn pointed to the limited practice work Amos has been able to get and the ramp-up period that would follow, leaving Washington to lean on its other cornerbacks in the meantime while the secondary tries to hold up without him. [Read more 🡒]