Jonathan Allen's time with the Washington Commanders had run its course during the 2025 offseason. The defensive lineman wanted a fresh start, and general manager Adam Peters did the veteran a favor by releasing him just before free agency began.
It's probably taken a little longer than he thought, but Allen is enjoying a new lease of life in Year 2 away from the team.
After being released by the Minnesota Vikings after one underwhelming campaign, the future looked more uncertain than ever for Allen. Fortunately for the interior force, the Cincinnati Bengals saw something in the player that could be salvaged as part of their defensive revolution.
Jonathan Allen is thriving again two years after Commanders exit
It's still early, but Allen is thriving, and the Bengals look like geniuses for taking a chance on the Alabama product.
Allen has been relentless to start the season. The effort and explosiveness that deserted him late in his Washington career have returned. His approach has an urgency that's hard not to love, and he's become an inspirational presence again when hope was rapidly fading.
This was the Allen that Minnesota thought it was getting. And just when it looked like his career might be fizzling into irrelevancy, he's proving himself as a dominant performer all over again.
The Bengals worked tirelessly to improve their defense this offseason. Allen was an overlooked yet integral part of their process, and slotting him next to nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II was a masterstroke.
Allen and Lawrence were NFC East adversaries for years. Now they are teammates, and having a space eater absorbing double teams gives Allen the freedom to flourish.
Jonathan Allen needed a new challenge after things fizzled out with the Commanders
The two-time Pro Bowler delivered another outstanding display against the Baltimore Ravens as Cincinnati struck a crucial blow in the AFC North. Allen is riding a wave right now, but that doesn't change the fact that Washington was right to let him seek alternative employment.
Things had become too strained for anything else. Allen's displeasure with the constant losing under Ron Rivera took a heavy toll. Even when the Commanders surged to the NFC Championship in Year 1 under head coach Dan Quinn, the cracks remained.
Allen wasn't happy. It happens. He served Washington well through some dark times in franchise history, but everything has an expiration date.
The Commanders moved on. So did Allen, and the player deserves immense credit for picking himself up off the canvas when things could have easily gone the other way after his failed stint in Minnesota.
As for the Commanders? They have their own problems on defense. And Quinn's decision to bring in Steve Wilks to help coordinator Daronte Jones suggests things aren't going well in the building.
That's no longer a concern for Allen. His primary objective is helping the Bengals regain AFC North supremacy and go deep into the postseason.
And based on his efforts over the first six games, Allen is off to a tremendous start.
Good for him.
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