The Washington Commanders are at the point every roster hopeful dreads: camp is over, preseason is in the books, and the only thing left is the wait. Adam Peters has already started the roster cuts ahead of Sunday’s deadline, and with more than 1,100 players set to be released around the league, Washington may also get a shot to address a few weak spots if the right name lands on the waiver wire.
For players on the fringe, this is the harshest part of the calendar. Some dreams end here.
Others get pushed onto a different path, and that’s where the practice squad comes in. Once Peters and Dan Quinn sort out the initial 53-man roster, they’ll turn to filling out that next layer, and most of those spots figure to go to players who spent the summer with the team and just missed the cut.
One of those players is Robert Henry Jr. The undrafted rookie made a real push this offseason and did plenty to catch the eye.
He came in with a chance to make life difficult in a crowded running back room, and he gave it everything he had. Still, it may not be enough to crack the 53.
The Commanders’ backfield is expected to be led by Jscory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen has had a rough preseason, but Washington is not going to move on from him this early in his development. Jeremy McNichols’ injury situation also matters, and if he’s healthy, he has a strong case as well.
That leaves Henry on the outside for now. Even so, his summer effort looks good enough to earn him a practice squad spot so he can keep developing in the same environment.
Earlier in his career, that kind of outcome would have been seen as a win. He may have wanted more, but staying with the organization gives him stability.
And with McNichols’ injury status still uncertain, Henry could even be one of the early call-ups until the veteran is ready to come back. If he keeps performing, there may still be something more permanent waiting down the road.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Familiar Offensive Line Gamble To Consider
Injuries and thin depth are already forcing the Commanders to keep a close eye on their offensive line, and a familiar name just hit the market at exactly the wrong time for the rest of the NFC East. The Giants released Evan Neal, the former top-10 pick whose career has been slowed by injuries and position changes, and that kind of move always gets attention in Washington when the trenches start looking shaky.
Evan Neal is hardly a clean solution, but the Commanders have taken this sort of swing before, and there is at least a recent template for why they might do it again. A low-cost depth add with starting experience can look a lot more appealing when the alternatives are moving pieces around and hoping the line holds together, which is what makes this possibility worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face An Urgent Center Decision Before Week 1
The Commanders have already gotten their roster down to 53 players, but the work in the middle of the offensive line is far from settled. Center has become a spot worth watching as injuries and recent releases have left Washington looking for stability before Week 1, and that uncertainty has pushed the team to keep scanning the waiver wire for help.
Kingsley Eguakun is one name worth tracking after his release from the Cleveland Browns, especially with his past connection to Washington offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton. For a team trying to steady the front before the season opens, adding a center with some familiarity in the building would make sense, but the next move still has to be made. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Cornerback Problem They Cant Ignore
Washington finalized its initial 53-man roster, but the numbers at cornerback already look a little thin. After a series of cuts and the move of Trey Amos to injured reserve, the Commanders are sitting with only three cornerbacks on the roster, a shape that does not leave much margin for a position that can get stressed quickly over the course of a season.
There is some roster maneuvering still to come, with veteran defensive tackle Shy Tuttle cut in a move that is expected to be temporary once Washington creates more space by placing Laremy Tunsil and Jer'Zhan Newton on injured reserve. Even with those transactions in motion, the cornerback room remains a spot to watch, and the Commanders may need to add help there before the opener if they want to feel comfortable about their depth. [Read more 🡒]