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.
Commanders QBs
- Jake Fromm.
It is highly unlikely that the Washington Commanders will keep all three of their current quarterbacks on the final roster. Sam Howell is young and Jacoby Brissett is durable. Neither has a history of injuries. So Jake Fromm holds the third signal caller spot on the practice squad.
For those suggesting that he should move ahead of Brissett into the second spot after an outstanding preseason, that is not happening,
Commanders RBs
- Derrick Gore, Jonathan Williams.
It will kill some of us to release Jaret Patterson, who produces in preseason whenever he gets the chance. But you cannot afford to spend three slots on running backs.
Jonathan Williams is a proven hard-nosed runner who can fill in for Brian Robinson Jr. or Chris Rodriguez Jr. in case of injury. And Derrick Gore is a very good all-purpose back who has some history with Eric Bieniemy.
Commanders WRs
- Kazmeir Allen, Marcus Kemp.
First of all, due to Terry McLaurin’s injury, I have Mitchell Tinsley on the final 53-man roster. This frees up an extra spot.
I assume Kazmeir Allen lost his chance to make the final roster – not due to his drops at wide receiver – but due to his clear discomfort as a punt returner. But he remains a talented developmental player.
Marcus Kemp is here for special teams play. I think he offers a little more versatility than Kyric McGowen for that second spot.
Commanders TEs
- E.J. Jenkins.
This gets speculative. First of all, I only have three of the Commanders' current tight ends making the roster – Logan Thomas, John Bates, and Cole Turner. I believe they will eventually carry a fourth tight end, and that he will be Blake Bell, currently of the Kansas City Chiefs.
That means players like Curtis Hodges, Kaden Smith, and Brandon Dillon should be available. But I think the Washington Commanders look outside for the talented developmental tight end who will probably be cut by the New York Jets come Tuesday.
Commanders OL
- Mason Brooks, Braeden Daniels.
If Washington keeps 10 offensive linemen, I think veteran Trent Scott takes the final spot. If so, I see them keeping rookies Mason Brooks and Braeden Daniels on the practice squad.
Daniels is very hard to project. I originally thought he would be on the final 53 because the Commanders have not been inclined to cut recent draft picks – especially middle-rounders – over the past few years. But I don’t think he can play tackle and he would seem to be stuck behind a lot of players at guard.
This includes Brooks – who I think has an outside chance of taking the roster spot I am currently giving to Scott. I think both are on the team – one on the final roster and the other on the practice squad. And I assume they are not ready to simply give up on Daniels. If they are, then Nolan Laufenberg could end up with this spot.
Commanders DTs
- Isaiah Mack.
The Washington Commanders like Benning Potoa’e, but I think they will keep the more experienced Isaiah Mack on hand for insurance. He is better able to step right onto the field and contribute.
The complicating factor is that Mack would take up one of six unlimited veteran spots, but I don’t think they are in danger of exceeding that limit. If they are, Potoa’e would get the spot.
I also would love to see the return of Daniel Wise when he is released by the Kansas City Chiefs. However, I don’t think that is likely.
Commanders DEs
- K.J. Henry, William Bradley-King.
I think seventh-round draft pick Andre Jones Jr. has beaten out fifth-rounder K.J. Henry for the final 53. But that doesn’t mean the team has soured on the former Clemson edge rusher. It just means the Commanders have great depth at this position.
I did not have William Bradley-King sticking around before his dynamic performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s true that he produced against players likely to be cut this Tuesday, but he did produce. And I have this suspicion that Washington is preparing for life after either Montez Sweat or Chase Young. They want to stockpile as many edge players as possible.
Commanders LBs
- Marcus Haynes.
The Washington Commanders will keep four linebackers on the final 53. I don’t think any of the others will be retained, though they seem to like Milo Eifler.
Marcus Haynes, who is likely to be cut by the Denver Broncos, is better than anybody the Commanders currently have in reserve. The former Old Dominion standout is more of a 3-4 edge linebacker whose strength is rushing the passer. But he is active and can play the run as well.
His chances for long-term success seem better to me than any other options the Commanders currently boast within an underwhelming position group.
Commanders CBs
- Rachad Wildgoose, Jace Whittaker.
On my final roster, I have Danny Johnson going to in-season injured/reserve, so he will make the final roster and then be shifted to the injured list. Rachad Wildgoose would seem to be his natural replacement, but I think Nick Whiteside has earned that spot.
Wildgoose and Jace Whittaker go to the practice squad for depth.
Commanders safeties
- Terrell Burgess.
Terrell Burgess is another veteran, and I think the Commanders will place a high priority on retaining him. He may be the player most likely to be stolen away by another team in need of back-end help, but if no one comes calling, he will be a very solid depth piece.
I am leaving the final spot open because I am sure there is a player who is not on my radar who will be signing to the Commanders' practice squad within a week or two of the final cuts.
The final spot could go to one of the players I have referenced here like Nolan Laufenberg or Milo Eifler, but I suspect that in addition to E.J. Jenkins and Marcus Haynes, there is at least one other player currently on another team who will be a Commander come September.
if you really want to think outside the box, pay attention to play-by-play man Chick Hernandez’s slip-up in the Cincinnati Bengals game when he referred to Brandon Dillon as Dillon Brooks. I suppose that's what comes from calling both NFL and NBA games.
But I swear, if you put 20 pounds on Brooks, you’ve got a dynamite edge defender. I wouldn’t put down actual money on that, but it’s fun to think about.