The Washington Commanders have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, and that work has created a familiar kind of pressure: more competition, fewer easy answers, and some painful cuts ahead.
That reality is especially true for Deatrich Wise Jr., a veteran who may now be fighting just to keep his place. What once looked like a short stay in Washington has turned into another chance, but the margin for error is thin.
Wise signed a one-year deal last year and quickly earned a starting job on the edge. He didn’t bring much pass-rushing burst, but he did enough against the run to make his case early.
Then came the setback. He suffered a season-ending quad injury in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers and never returned.
For a while, it seemed possible that would be the end of his run with the Commanders. Instead, Adam Peters brought him back on another one-year deal. The difference this time is obvious: Wise no longer has a clear path to a starting role, and making the 53-man roster has to be the first goal.
Washington’s defense has been heavily reworked at all three levels, and the edge-rush group looks deeper than it did before. Daronte Jones’ expected move to a 3-4 base front only adds to the competition, giving the unit a more aggressive and creative feel.
That doesn’t leave much room for a player like Wise unless he can carve out a very specific role. He does have tools that matter.
He has the size to line up as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 3-4 defensive end, and his run defense could become useful if injuries hit. He also brings special-teams experience, which matters for players sitting lower on the depth chart.
Wise was a 2017 fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, and his value now comes down to whether he can hold off the players pushing behind him. The Commanders have already made major defensive investments, and Peters has given Wise a second chance. But that means little if he can’t make it through camp and onto the roster.
There will be interest if Washington decides to move on at final cuts. For now, though, the veteran’s job is simple: prove he belongs.
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