The Washington Commanders are turning over every available stone to tread water during their injury crisis. It's not ideal, but those in power are doing their best to make the most of a very concerning situation.
Adam Peters never sits still. This was once again evident with the reported signing of veteran wide receiver Robbie Chosen to their practice squad, who'll provide insurance with second-team All-Pro Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown on the shelf.
Chosen will be relishing the chance to help out on a team expected to be in playoff contention despite their rocky 2-2 start. However, he's also stumbled into the most awkward reunion imaginable along the way.
Robbie Chosen's path crosses with Scott Fitterer again on the Commanders
The former Temple star was riding on the crest of a wave after going over 1,000 receiving yards for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Chosen got a one-year extension in recognition of his tremendous impact, but the firing of his former college coach, Matt Rhule, changed everything in the blink of an eye.
He didn't feel Rhule should have been scapegoated, an opinion not shared by fans. Chosen and interim coach Steve Wilks didn't hit it off. A sideline spat against the Los Angeles Rams resulted in his dismissal from the game while it was still in progress. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals the next day.
The man who traded him was Scott Fitterer, who is now working in Washington's front office after his tenure as Panthers general manager ended with his inevitable firing.
It's amusing how the NFL sometimes works out. Chosen and Fitterer probably didn't think that their paths would cross again. The wideout was far from complimentary about the way his situation in Carolina was handled, so whether any animosity remains between the two remains to be seen. Either way, it shouldn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things, even if it might get a little awkward.
Chosen's primary focus should center on a quick integration. He has a chance to feature if he takes on coaching. He's also got previous experience working with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was his head coach in Arizona for 10 games before his abrupt removal.
That should smooth his transition, but expecting miracles right away isn't fair. Chosen hasn't produced any lofty numbers since 2021. He's 32 years old and may have lost some of his explosiveness. But if anyone can get a tune out of him, it's Kingsbury.
Whether Fitterer's input was sought before this transaction is anyone's guess. But Kingsbury's opinion probably held more weight.