5 surprise inclusions on the Washington Commanders initial 53-man roster

Mykal Walker - Commanders LB

Mykal Walker might be another veteran who benefitted from a nagging injury suffered by a 2024 draft pick. In this case, it is Jordan Magee who is ailing.

The fact that he will not be available for at least a few weeks at the beginning of the season opened up a linebacking spot behind Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and the linebacker/edge hybrid players Dante Fowler Jr. and Jamin Davis. Magee showed promise over the offseason, so he should feature prominently when he gets the all-clear.

Another veteran free-agent linebacker, Anthony Pittman, seemed to be getting more plays in the preseason, but he has mostly been a special teamer throughout his career. Walker has been a serviceable linebacker and got the nod.

Two years ago, he recorded more than 100 tackles, along with several interceptions and pass break-ups while getting good playing time with the Atlanta Falcons. Once Magee went down, Walker was the best-suited remaining linebacker to step into Wagner and Luvu’s role in the event of injury.

Dominique Hampton - Commanders S/LB

It isn’t a shock that Dominique Hampton made the roster. All of the Washington Commanders' 2024 draft picks did. Teams think highly of their selections, and cutting one so early is an admission of failure.

The real surprise is that the Commanders kept seven safeties. I don’t think Jeremy Chinn, Quan Martin, and Darrick Forrest were ever in danger of being cut, but I thought only two or three players from the next group - Tyler Owens, Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, and Hampton - would stick.

I suppose you could sub in Reaves or Butler in this spot, but we had seen very little from Hampton this preseason. He's listed as a linebacker on the team's official release, so we'll have to wait and see how things shake out.

The Commanders took through just five cornerbacks, which means they are not done recruiting. One of those fringe safeties could eventually find his way to the practice squad. Quan Martin can play cornerback if necessary, complicating the mathematics.

The secondary is still very much a work in progress. But for now, Hampton is a part of it.

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