Washington Football Team: Jeremy Reaves an Unheralded Player success story

If you’ve been here long enough, you know that, for the past few years, I’ve done a Washington Football Team Unheralded Players series.

I haven’t had as much time to keep up with this series this year, but over the past few summers, it’s been a great way to keep up with some of the lesser known players on the Washington Football Team.

The 90-man roster is built in such a way that it can house quite a few journeymen in any given offseason — players that haven’t been able to stick around anywhere else, due to lacking opportunities. Jeremy Reaves was one of those players, having been chosen by Washington as a mere undrafted free agent back in 2018.

Reaves only played in two games as a rookie, and was eligible to be an Unheralded Player in his second NFL season. He joined a safety room bristling with uncertainty, but without elite athleticism, Reaves would have to emerge a different way — with hard work.

Since 2019, Reaves has done just that. The South Alabama product started three games during the 2019 season, earning a pass deflection in limited action. And when he wasn’t starting, he was proving his mettle on special teams.

Reaves ultimately did enough during that 2019 season to win over Ron Rivera when the Washington Football Team enacted a regime change in the ensuing offseason. Rivera kept Reaves on his initial roster, and kept him through the entire offseason. When roster cuts occurred, the numbers game swept up Reaves, but Washington signed him back to the practice squad.

Reaves’ next opportunity would come soon enough. When Landon Collins suffered a season-ending injury in October, Reaves was elevated from the practice squad. Kamren Curl took the reigns at strong safety, while Deshazor Everett replaced Troy Apke at free safety.

Reaves remained in the wings for a time, but soon, injuries forced Everett out of the starting lineup, and Reaves got his chance to shine. He again started three games, this time accumulating 25 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, two pass deflections, and an interception. On top of that, he allowed a measly 61.7 passer rating in coverage.

The Washington Football Team can’t guarantee Reaves a spot again this season. Everett is returning as a veteran and special teams player, and Landon Collins will be coming back from injury. Additionally, the team signed Bobby McCain, a versatile player with a wealth of starting experience. Reaves is in danger once again due to the numbers game.

Nevertheless, Reaves has beaten the numbers game before. And by now, with proven special teams ability and instincts on defense, he’s a valuable player in multiple phases. A starting free safety hasn’t been chosen yet, so presumably, Reaves will be allowed to battle for the spot. But that alone might be a victory for Reaves, who at one point wasn’t even considered for a roster spot, by the better part of 32 teams.

Because Unheralded Players face so much adversity and have the odds stacked against them, success stories are few and far between. But in Jeremy Reaves, the Washington Football Team has found an Unheralded Player who rose above the uncertainty, and actively claimed a place for himself.

One might ask how an Unheralded Player did it, but the answer may ultimately be in the question.