Commanders 2023 practice squad projection prior to final cuts

Which players are prime candidates for the Washington Commanders practice squad if they don't do enough to make the 53-man roster?

Cutdown day in the NFL will have a different feel in 2023. Instead of staggering the process through several preseason stages, this year it all happens by Tuesday's deadline.

The Washington Commanders will reduce their roster from 90 to 53. If my math is right – and you may want to check it because I did not use a calculator – that means 37 players will have their dreams shattered in the coming days.

Well, maybe only 21 will be shattered.

Up to 16 of them will still get a paycheck from an NFL team as part of the practice squad. And there will be a very good chance that some of those will find themselves in uniform on a Sunday or two this season.

The NFL liberalized practice squad rules during COVID so that the number now stands at 16, and there are only minor limitations on how a team can fill its ranks. Both by rule and by desire, the Commanders will put together a blend of veterans and young players who cover all positions.

There will be some players valued for their ability to step right into an emergency situation should there be an injury late in the week. Others are strictly developmental – talented guys who need a year or two of seasoning before they are ready for the pros.

Most teams draw the bulk of practice squad members from their own final cuts, which makes sense. The teams know these players best and they already know the system.

There might be several players on the initial practice squad roster who come from other teams. And as the season progresses, this remains fluid with new players being added as the situation warrants.

For now, let’s do a little projecting on the first incarnation of the Commanders' 2023 practice squad. This makes assumptions about which players will make the final 53 and then fills in the most reasonable group to hold in reserve.