The Washington Commanders are 0-2 entering the final week of preseason. That normally wouldn’t be a big deal, but their performances have left a lot of fans questioning what their true ceiling is this season as some of their biggest pitfalls from 2021 (third-down defense chief among them) are resurfacing.
It won’t get any easier for the Commanders this weekend, when they’ll lock horns with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Stadium. This past weekend, the Ravens knocked off the Cardinals to extend their NFL record for consecutive preseason wins to 22 games.
In other words, the Ravens treat preseason more serious than most teams, so Washington will get its doors blown off if they don’t come ready to play. With the starters unlikely to play any snaps, young players and roster bubble players have an excellent opportunity to stake their claim for a roster spot.
While these specific Commanders were lucky to make it beyond the 80-man deadline, rosters drop to 53 players after this weekend’s slate so they’ll have everything to play for against Baltimore as far as making the final roster.
3 Commanders with everything to play for in preseason finale
3. Alex Erickson, WR/KR
Erickson has admittedly performed well in the preseason, but his odds of making the roster are contingent on whether he sticks as the return specialist … and he hasn’t covered himself in glory in that department in preseason.
Erickson’s lone kickoff return Saturday vs Kansas City went just 17 yards. In Week 1 against Carolina, his return went just 19 yards. His average yards per kickoff is less than undrafted free agent Kyric McGowan’s 18.25 and is a far cry from DeAndre Carter’s 25.11 that ranked third in the league last season.
I haven’t seen anything from Erickson that suggests he deserves a 53-man roster spot. If Dax Milne and Jahan Dotson split punt return duties, Washington could seemingly get by appointing someone else to return kickoffs, especially if Erickson’s spot prevents another deserving receiver from making the team.
2. Jeremy Reaves, S
The Commanders’ safety room has quietly developed into a potential strength amid solid training camp and preseason play from second-year player Darrick Forrest, rookie Percy Butler, recent signing Steven Parker and the inevitable Jeremy Reaves. So much so, in fact, that the coaching staff will undoubtedly have a tough time deciding who misses the final cut on the 53-man roster.
The first four spots are locked up with Bobby McCain, Kam Curl, Forrest and Butler, but Washington could justify carrying a fifth safety if it goes short at cornerback. That leaves Parker and Reaves as the most likely contenders.
It’s become an inside joke amongst fans how long Reaves has lasted in Washington, but he’s deserved those opportunities.
The coaching staff, Ron Rivera included, appreciates Reaves’ physicality and he’s made a signature play in each preseason game thus far, including a sack against Carolina and a textbook tackle to blow up a Chiefs running play.
We all know Washington champions versatility in its defenders, and Reaves is lacking in that department relative to Parker, who’s lined up in the box, at safety and in the slot in preseason. Reaves has played primarily at free safety.
In the event that’s used against him, the 25-year-old safety needs another statement game against Baltimore.
1. Christian Holmes, CB
The Commanders aren’t deep at cornerback by any stretch, but it’s no guarantee Holmes makes the final roster. Not only does the team have multiple safeties capable of defending the slot, but they often used three safeties last season.
Assuming Washington keeps Kendall Fuller, William Jackson, Benjamin St-Juste and Danny Johnson, Holmes almost becomes expendable as a seventh-round pick. Of course, that could change if the Oklahoma State product balls out against Baltimore, so he better bring his Saturday best to M&T Bank Stadium.
After the Week 1 loss to Carolina, Ron Rivera said he noticed the club’s young corners struggled with “eye discipline.” It’s unclear if he was referring to Holmes but it’s probably a safe bet as the entire Commanders’ secondary — including the first-team defense — got carved up by the Chiefs’ passing game in Week 2.
Washington would undoubtedly be reluctant to cut a 2022 draft pick, but Holmes is skating on thin ice with one week left of preseason.
Honorable mentions: Kyric McGowan, Milo Eifler, Justin Hamilton, Shaka Toney, Aaron Monteiro and Tre Walker.