Jahan Dotson’s college teammate one of Commanders’ two waiver claims

The Washington Commanders’ final round of roster cuts featured two shockers: cornerbacks Danny Johnson and Corn Elder. That left Kendall Fuller, William Jackson III, Benjamin St-Juste and Christian Holmes as the only corners on the roster.

While the Commanders’ safety room is pretty deep, it’s nowhere near deep enough for them to justify carrying four CBs to start the year. That led everyone and their mother to believe they’d claim a couple reinforcements off waivers.

That’s exactly what happened, and Washington made the moves markedly more intriguing by the names of the players they claimed.

Ladies and gents, Tariq Fields-Castro and Rachad Wildgoose are you newest additions to the cornerback room.

Commanders claimed cornerbacks Tariq Fields-Castro and Rachad Wildgoose off waivers Wednesday.

We admittedly don’t know much about either player, but the initial signs are San Francisco wanted Fields-Castro back on their practice squad. Additionally, former 49ers and Washington general manager Scot McCloughan told the “49ers Talk” podcast back in June that Castro-Fields was the team’s best draft pick this year.

Of course, one former GM’s opinion doesn’t mean Castro-Fields will stick in Washington, but  McCloughan’s praise of the former Penn State standout (Jahan Dotson’s teammate, too) should give some semblance of insight into the move.

Wildgoose, on the other hand, was one of seven Jets claimed on waivers. He appeared in five games last season as a sixth-round pick (of the Bills) out of Wisconsin. He played 30 total snaps; one on defense and 29 on special teams.

These moves won’t inspire much confidence, but the waiver wire market doesn’t exactly offer walk-in starters. These are players who were fighting tooth and nail for roster spots on their now-former teams. And the majority of them don’t even get claimed, as we saw with Washington’s practice squad.

To make room for Castro-Fields and Wildgoose on the 53-man roster, the Commanders will place promising UDFA Curtis Hodges, a surprise addition to the final roster, on injured reserve with a designation to return. Hodges had missed the last couple weeks of camp and preseason and will now miss the first four games.

The second corresponding move hasn’t been confirmed, but Sam Fortier of the Washington Post understands linebacker De’Jon Harris will get released, which isn’t a huge surprise with Khaleke Hudson and Ferrod Gardner on the practice squad.

What do you make of these moves, Commanders fans? Do you have more or less faith in Washington’s cornerback room now?