Winner No. 4
Ricky Barber - Commanders DL
The Washington Commanders won't have Johnny Newton available for a few months. His torn pectoral muscle that required surgery will likely land him on injured reserve in the not-too-distant future, ending any hopes of a breakout campaign. This also created an opportunity for someone else to step up and fill the void.
That someone was Ricky Barber.
The second-year pro spent last season on the practice squad, and this experience served him well. Barber looked much more accomplished this summer, more comfortable with Daronte Jones' schematic concepts, and left a largely positive impression in the preseason.
Barber rightfully got a spot on the 53-man roster. And with the Commanders lacking quality depth in the defensive trenches, the former Central Florida lineman could eventually become a key cog in the rotation.
That would be the biggest positive imaginable for the Commanders, who need all the help they can get on Jones' new 3-4 front.
Loser No. 3
Van Jefferson Jr.
The Commanders were always going to release good players from their wide receiver unit. There were only so many spots to go around, even though Washington took seven through. But just when it looked as if momentum was building around Van Jefferson Jr., general manager Adam Peters released him.
Jefferson signed a one-year deal with the Commanders this offseason. Making the team was going to be a tall order, but the positive impression left at training camp gave him a fighting chance. He's also more experienced, with better production than anyone outside of Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.
Playing in the final preseason game wasn't the best sign. Reading between the lines, Jefferson was fighting it out with Luke McCaffrey for the final spot. And given the 2024 third-round pick is useful in the return game, the Florida product's fate was sealed.
It'll be interesting to see what comes next for Jefferson, but it won't be in Washington.
Winner No. 5
Kain Medrano - Commanders LB
One could have forgiven Kain Medrano for feeling a little pessimistic about his roster hopes after an underwhelming preseason. This was magnified by a disastrous outing against the Baltimore Ravens, but very few emerged from that one with any real credit.
The Commanders aren't ready to give up on Medrano's athletic upside. He got on the team for the second straight year. Ale Kaho wasn't as fortunate, though the 2025 undrafted free agent is coming back onto the practice squad.
Some were surprised by the reprieve for Medrano. But with Nick Bellore bringing an end to his 15-year career before training camp, there is an opening for the UCLA product to become more impactful on special teams.
This is a niche Medrano can carve out for himself. He's not going to matter much on the defensive rotation, so becoming a dominant special-teams player should be his avenue to a long career in Washington.
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