The Washington Commanders need some inspiration. This is especially evident in their secondary, which was supposed to be a strength but has quickly become a significant concern through the midseason point.
Things just aren't clicking. The Commanders took some calculated risks in the secondary this offseason, and they haven't paid off as yet. One of those centered on general manager Adam Peters' decision not to bring back safety Darrick Forrest in free agency.
Forrest was once considered a possible long-term piece of the puzzle. His partnership with Kamren Curl on the backend was a rare bright spot amid the doom and gloom under Ron Rivera. Unfortunately, injuries dented his momentum, and the regime had a different approach when it came on board in 2024.
Fallen Commanders draft pick Darrick Forrest is already fiighting a losing battle
Curl left for the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 free agency. Forrest made the squad, but he quickly became an afterthought as the Commanders moved forward with Quan Martin and Jeremy Chinn as their starting pair. The talent remained, but a fresh start seemed like a foregone conclusion from a long way out.
The former Cincinnati college prospect was signed by the Buffalo Bills but released this summer during final cuts. Forrest landed on the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad for all of four days before his abrupt departure.
And now, when his career prospects were fading quickly, Forrest landed another opportunity to galvanize his NFL journey.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Forrest to their practice squad. The AFC North club was in desperate need of safety reinforcements after DeShon Elliott's injury, so this represented a good chance for the defensive back to potentially make his way to the 53-man roster with a smooth transition.
However, these hopes quietly ended even before they began.
Just a few hours after Forrest's arrival in Pittsburgh was confirmed, the Steelers also secured the services of Kyle Dugger via trade from the New England Patriots. They gave up a sixth-rounder in exchange for the safety and a seventh-round pick, and he immediately jumps the ex-Washington standout in the pecking order.
This is all part of the NFL's cutthroat business. What happens in the front office is out of Forrest's hands. He must focus on a smooth integration, adapting well to the schematic concepts, and catching the eye enough to be included in some capacity.
Anything less, and this could be the last time anyone sees Forrest on an NFL roster, which was an inconceivable notion just a few short seasons ago.