3 tough cuts the Commanders could make after 2023 preseason finale
By Dean Jones
John Ridgeway - Commanders DL
In all honesty, the chances of Ron Rivera giving up on John Ridgeway after one professional season appear remote. The former fifth-round selection has all the physical intangibles normally associated with solid depth pieces on the defensive line, although it's hard to gauge whether he could become anything more than that based on his rookie campaign.
Ridgeway became something of a cult hero among Washington Commanders fans thanks to his tireless approach and larger-than-life personality. But there is no room for sentiment where those in power are concerned given how much pressure is on their shoulders with Josh Harris' ownership group assessing everything associated with the franchise.
Washington's defensive front has an embarrassment of riches across the board. This indicates a tough cut or two is coming thanks to the numbers game if nothing else, which could end up being someone like Ridgeway unless the interior presence shows out in their preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Again, this would be a shocking cut at Ridgeway's current phase of development. But the recent signing of defensive tackle Antonio Montalvo indicates the primary decision-makers aren't quite happy with their options lower down the depth chart.
Ridgeway should get a ton of reps in Washington's final warmup game. If he doesn't show enough in the face of backups and third-stringers, Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio have a big call to make.