Jeremy Reaves is getting a fresh look in Washington, and this time it’s coming from a defense that seems built to highlight what he does best.
For most of his Commanders tenure, Reaves has been known more for special teams than for steady snaps on defense. But with defensive coordinator Daronte Jones installing a new system, Reaves’ value has started to pop in a different way. His communication and football IQ have stood out as Washington works through a complicated rollout of new schemes.
That matters in a defense that asks its linebackers and safeties to stay locked in on disguises, adjustments, and responsibilities before the snap. In that kind of setup, being loud, sharp, and organized can buy a player real opportunities.
Reaves isn’t just getting run because he’s been around or because teammates like him. Dan Quinn made it clear Wednesday that he’s earned the chance to stay in the mix.
"He's got very high standards about how he wants to go," Quinn said Wednesday. "So, in that space, he's very much in the mix from a defensive standpoint."
Reaves has long carried leadership traits, something that traces back to his military family. Jones’ defense appears to give those qualities a better stage.
That doesn’t mean Reaves is suddenly a lock for the starting lineup, especially with Washington’s depth at safety. But it does mean the door has opened for a player who has mostly been seen as a special teams ace.
Quinn said Reaves’ consistency, effort, leadership, and daily push to raise the standard are the kind of qualities a team wants to have everywhere. Reaves still has work to do as camp continues, but Washington is giving him a real shot to show he belongs in Jones’ system.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Commanders addressed another need by agreeing to a one-year deal with Stefon Diggs worth up to $12 million. After months of uncertainty about who would settle in as WR2, Washington adds a proven veteran to a receiver room that had been centered on Terry McLaurin and a group of prospects trying to establish themselves.
The team also added to its staff, hiring Nick Charlton as an offensive assistant, according to The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Charlton is set to begin working with the organization on Friday. Washington has not announced his exact role, though Wes Welker currently holds the same title and is serving as the interim tight ends coach, which may point to where Charlton fits.
In Other News...
Commanders Camp Is Already Forcing Two Big Roster Decisions
The Commanders first padded practices of training camp have already started to clarify a couple of the roster questions that could shape the rest of August. Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and rookie linebacker Sonny Styles all drew positive attention in the early going, while the staff has begun sorting through how to use its linebackers and how deep the receiver room really needs to be after the addition of Stefon Diggs.
At linebacker, Washington is still exploring the mix with Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal, and the best fit may not be obvious yet as the coaches look for the right balance of speed, aggression and reliability. On the perimeter, the final wide receiver spot is turning into a real camp battle, with Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks among the players trying to force their way onto the roster before the work gets serious later this month. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Receiver Battle Just Got Tougher After Stefon Diggs Arrival
Stefon Diggs arrival in Washington has already changed the look of the Commanders receiver room, and not just at the top. With Terry McLaurin entrenched as the primary target, Diggs is expected to slide into the No. 2 role and bring a proven presence to a group that was already going to be under the microscope. For a team trying to sort out its passing-game pecking order, that kind of addition naturally tightens the race for everyone else.
Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey and Dyami Brown are now all pushing through a camp that already promised to be competitive under Dan Quinn. The preseason will carry extra weight for those players, because the Commanders roster decisions are likely to come down to who can separate themselves when the opportunities get scarce. Diggs did more than deepen the group - he made every rep feel a little more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Stefon Diggs Nearly Gave The Commanders Another NFC East Twist
Before Stefon Diggs landed in Washington, there was at least a little NFC East intrigue brewing elsewhere. The Giants exchanged messages with the veteran receiver, a reminder that a player of his profile tends to draw interest well beyond the obvious suitors, especially as teams hunt for proven help and teams around the division keep tabs on one another.
Those conversations never made it to contract talks, though, because the financial fit was not right. Diggs ultimately settled on a one-year deal with the Commanders, adding another layer to a career that has already taken him from Minnesota to Buffalo to Houston and New England, and now into a Washington receiver room that is suddenly a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]