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3 dark horses to make the Commanders’ 53-man roster

By Jonathan Eig

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Landon Collins #26 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at FedExField on December 12, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 12: Landon Collins #26 of the Washington Football Team celebrates with teammates after an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at FedExField on December 12, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

De’Jon Harris, LB

Washington may well sign another linebacker before the season starts – or at any point during the season. Last year, the Commanders added two linebackers, Harris and Milo Eifler well into the season, and both saw action in multiple games down the stretch. This offseason, the only addition Washington made to its moribund linebacking corps was Nathan Gerry, who last played an NFL game  in 2020. Gerry is journeyman who didn’t figure to play a major role before injury landed him on IR this past week.

The Washington Commanders have one reliable linebacker in Cole Holcomb, one athletically gifted project in Jamin Davis, and then a bunch of guys. David Mayo, Khaleke Hudson, a couple of UDFA rookies. These aren’t necessarily bad players. But they are all limited.

Harris, and to a lesser degree, Eifler, have just a little bit more in the tank. We don’t have much tape on either, but Harris has at least shown both the willingness and the ability to shoot a gap a meet a ball carrier near the line of scrimmage, something no other backer on the team is really doing right now. He may well be the player best suited to play in the middle. If he could, it would allow Holcomb to return to the strong side where he has seemed very comfortable in the past couple of years, and would allow Davis to play his more natural weak side position. I realize this team essentially plays a 4-2-5 base no with only two backers, but there are times when you would like to have a third linebacker out there – especially on the 3rd and short situations that have bedeviled this defense. (Full disclosure: 3rd and anything has bedeviled this defense).

I have no idea why AJ Johnson isn’t a Commander, but he has not signed anywhere yet, which means either he is holding out for his preferred deal, or the league suspects his chest injury and age make him a bad risk. De’Jon Harris is not AJ Johnson, but he could fill a role that the Washington Commanders sorely need.

And, for my third selection, an oldie-but-goodie wild card…

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