7 Commanders on the 53-man roster who might not last the entire 2024 season
By Dean Jones
Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
Colson Yankoff's rise from undrafted free agent obscurity into a roster spot was one of the offseason's most heartwarming stories. Nobody held out much hope for the tight end in a crowded room before the Washington Commanders began their preparations for the 2024 campaign. He surged through the ranks and was preferred to the likes of Armani Rogers and Cole Turner when push came to shove.
Yankoff's ability to impact special teams thanks to maximum effort and surprising on-field awareness probably tipped the scales in his favor. The Commanders took through four tight ends, so it remains to be seen whether the same trend will continue throughout 2024 if injuries begin to impact other position groups.
Looking at the depth chart as it stands, Yankoff looks like a potentially expandable asset if Washington needs to solidify another area of the field. In this scenario, he'd be a certainty to make his way onto the practice squad at the expense of someone else.
Regardless of how things unfold for Yankoff in the coming months, he can look back at his efforts throughout the offseason with an enormous sense of pride. He's got his foot in the door, but establishing himself in a regular-season setting is a different matter entirely.
Jonathan Allen - Commanders DT
Jonathan Allen was the subject of intense trade speculation throughout the offseason. The veteran defensive tackle became more frustrated and disillusioned than ever during Ron Rivera's final season. Losing constantly was beyond tiresome for the player, who hinted that his future might lie away from the Commanders unless something changed.
Thankfully, it did. The Commanders implemented widespread alterations across the board. This went down extremely well with Allen, who looked rejuvenated and excited throughout the offseason as a result.
Adam Peters never had any intention of trading Allen despite interest from elsewhere. However, if Washington ends up going nowhere fast by the 2024 deadline, one couldn't completely rule out the possibility of a transaction coming to fruition.
Peters is planning with the long-term in mind. He's already disposed of several players who held prominent roles previously, including wide receiver Jahan Dotson. If the new front-office leader gets an acceptable offer for Allen if the Commanders start the campaign poorly, it's something to contemplate.
It's also something the former first-round pick out of Alabama would probably welcome if it meant landing on a team with a legitimate chance of winning a Super Bowl.
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