The Commanders are shuffling the deck again on the eve of their game with Dallas, and the latest moves are all about coverage and insurance.
Washington signed defensive tackle Ricky Barber to the practice squad Saturday afternoon, then elevated him right away for Sunday’s matchup. The team also elevated linebacker Ale Kaho as the injuries keep piling up at linebacker and defensive tackle.
Barber had been released Thursday after the Commanders added cornerback Issac Yiadom to the active roster. Now he’s back in the building, at least for the weekend, to give Washington more depth behind Javon Kinlaw, whose status is still up in the air after he missed practice Thursday and was limited Friday.
At linebacker, the situation is even more stretched. Jordan Magee was moved to injured reserve this week, and Frankie Luvu is out, leaving Washington thin at the spot.
The Commanders still have Leo Chenal and rookie Sonny Styles to handle snaps, but Kaho gives them another body for special teams and a possible small role in the defensive rotation. He has been on the practice squad since late August.
Both elevations are temporary, so neither Barber nor Kaho has to be added to the 53-man roster for the game. That gives Washington a little breathing room as it works through injuries without needing another corresponding move.
The expectation is that neither player will be asked to carry a major load. That isn’t the point. Barber is there in case Kinlaw can’t go or is limited, and Kaho gives the Commanders another linebacker and special teams option with Luvu and Magee unavailable.
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Commanders May Need These Lineup Tweaks To Handle Dallas Better
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Rasul Douglas, Antonio Williams, Ben Sinnott and Quan Martin all surfaced as possible beneficiaries if Washington decides to tweak roles heading into the Cowboys game. Those are the kinds of adjustments that can make a difference in a divisional matchup, especially when the margin for error is thin, but for now they remain ideas rather than confirmed changes as the Commanders weigh performance and availability against a Dallas opponent that will demand cleaner execution. [Read more 🡒]