The Washington Commanders’ quarterback picture could still change after roster cuts, and one familiar name is suddenly in the mix.
As the league moves through the final wave of preseason trimming and every team gets down to 53 players by 6:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, the Commanders are watching the waiver wire with a particular eye on their own depth behind Jayden Daniels. Daniels’ injury history, Marcus Mariota’s preseason injury, and the presence of seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis have all kept the backup conversation alive.
One possible answer became available when the Cincinnati Bengals released Josh Johnson on Sunday as part of their cuts. Johnson spent part of the 2025 season with Washington and stepped in for the last few games when Daniels and Mariota were both sidelined. In five games for the Commanders, he completed 34 passes for 372 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson is no stranger to the job. The veteran backup was a fifth-round pick in 2008 and has bounced around the league with stops that include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bengals, Browns and others. His 2025 run with Washington was actually his second stint with the organization, after also being part of the 2018 team.
Washington also has other options to sort through. Sam Hartman, an undrafted free agent who joined the Commanders in 2024 and has spent most of his time on the practice squad, was released on Sunday and appears likely to return to the practice squad. Kaliakmanis, meanwhile, impressed during the preseason, but the question is whether he’s ready for the active roster or better suited for the practice squad - assuming Washington believes he could clear waivers without being claimed by another team.
For now, the Commanders are weighing experience against upside, and Johnson’s familiarity with the organization gives them a ready-made insurance policy if they want one.
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 🡒]