3 former Commanders players who might be done in the NFL

Josh Norman - Former Commanders CB

It seemed as if Josh Norman's time in the NFL was done in 2022. The veteran cornerback wasn't brought back by the Buffalo Bills and was left on the proverbial scrap heap for most of the campaign before one of his old employers not named the Washington Commanders threw him a lifeline.

With the Carolina Panthers desperately seeking assistance in the wake of Jaycee Horn's untimely injury before their Week 17 divisional title showdown at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, interim head coach Steve Wilks gave Norman a call. The All-Pro was working as a barista in his coffee shop at the time, but there was enough fire burning within to strap them up despite the short timeframe.

Norman didn't see much action during the game despite C.J. Henderson and Keith Taylor Jr. getting torched by Tom Brady. He played more in their season finale at the New Orleans Saints, which was a nice way for the defensive back to sign off if this was the end.

Nothing can be dismissed entirely, but it would be surprising to see Norman get another shot elsewhere. His career will always be tinged with what might have been given the Commanders never got anything like his 2015 production after paying him a whopping sum in free agency.

The Commanders have hopefully found the right formula in the secondary after selecting Emmanuel Forbes at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Something that could finally end the search for a shutdown presence capable of locking down one side of the field.