Another veteran free-agent signing the Washington Commanders made this offseason has opted to retire. But it comes within a position group that has the depth to cope.
D.J. Davidson has opted to walk away from the gridiron, and the Commanders have now placed him on the reserve/retired list. This follows on from the retirements of veteran special-teams ace Nick Bellore and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon in recent weeks.
And the fact that Washington did not bring in another interior defensive lineman to replace Davidson speaks volumes.
Commanders have enough on their defensive front to cope without D.J. Davidson
There was some quiet intrigue around Davidson's arrival in Washington. He was expected to secure a rotational place on the 53-man roster, and after spending the first four years of his professional career with the New York Giants, he was well-versed with the NFC East's demands.
But it's been an anonymous summer for Davidson. Others were ahead of him in the pecking order, and he has now decided to call time on his career at just 26.
Perhaps Davidson no longer had the motivation. Perhaps he saw his situation as especially bleak, which is understandable. But either way, retirement was his preferred option.
Though mildly disappointing, the Commanders have the personnel to cope without Davidson.
Daronte Jones is switching Washington's defense to a 3-4 base front. Javon Kinlaw, Daron Payne, and free-agent signing Tim Settle Jr. will lead the charge as the likely starters. Head coach Dan Quinn is expecting big things from Johnny Newton in Year 3 of his professional career, so it would be surprising if he wasn't heavily involved.
Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise Jr. (when healthy) have the size to operate on the front if needed. The Commanders also have Shy Tuttle, who's got experience as a 3-4 end or at the nose tackle position. And thanks to Davidson's retirement, he now stands a good chance of making the squad.
Davidson was disheartened enough to call it a day. Prolonging the agony never works when a player's heart isn't in it. He is young enough to resume his career if the 2022 fifth-round pick out of Arizona State has a change of heart down the line, but the league will have long forgotten about him by then.
The Commanders won't be losing much sleep about it. General manager Adam Peters is adept at moving on quickly, and there is a real comfort level in Washington's primary defensive line options. Davidson no doubt saw that for himself, and there was no more fight left to give.
And now, it's all about life after football.
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