Commanders 2024 roster cuts tracker: Live updates and analysis - updated 8/27

The final preseason game is in the books and there is nothing more players can do to secure roster spots. New general manager Adam Peters and others in positions of power are about to embark on some tough discussions as they gear up to finalize the Washington Commanders' initial 53-man roster before Tuesday's deadline.

Some players are locked into their spots. Others shouldn't be surprised when they are cast aside. Things are legitimately hanging in the balance for a select few, so it'll be interesting to see which direction Peters goes when push comes to shove.

Even those who make the 53-man squad might not be on the team in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Commanders are No. 2 in the waiver wire priority list behind the Carolina Panthers. This is a good chance for Peters to acquire good players who don't quite make the grade on contending organizations. One couldn't dismiss the possibility of further trades if the right opportunities come along.

It's a fascinating time for fans, but a difficult one for players. Some will realize their NFL dreams and be rewarded for their hard work throughout the summer. Hundreds will see their hopes come crashing to a halt and are forced to go back to the drawing board.

There is an exceptional infrastructure in place after wholesale changes throughout the offseason. This should provide confidence that Peters and his staff will make the correct decisions to take the Commanders forward. That hasn't been the case in previous years.

Cuts have been more staggered typically. But the NFL's new rules gave every player a chance to see out the offseason program and get some extra time to make a splash. Some took advantage of that. Some didn't.

A dramatic few days await. Keep up to date with all the transactions and get some quick-fire analysis in our 2024 roster cuts tracker.

Commanders 2024 roster cuts tracker

Commanders cut Davion Davis

The Commanders began trimming down their roster by cutting Davion Davis. He was at the bottom end of the wide receiver depth chart, so it wasn't a great surprise. There are tougher choices upcoming for those in power in the room.

Commanders waive CB duo

Places are at a premium in the cornerback room. Nick Whiteside II and A.J. Woods won't be part of the roster after both were waived by the franchise.

Again, the early cuts often come with no real surprise attached. This proved to be the case with Whiteside and Woods, who were on the fringes throughout and didn't do enough to impose themselves.

Commanders cut Martavis Bryant

Martavis Bryant made a notable impact in a relatively short space of time. The wide receiver lost most of his prime years through suspension. Despite flashing in Washington's last preseason game, it didn't alter his trajectory and he was released.

This is another stumbling block in Bryant's comeback trail. Scoring a touchdown and displaying willing blocking capabilities against the New England Patriots wasn't enough for an extended stay. Now, it's back to the drawing board.

Commanders waive Mitchell Tinsley

Mitchell Tinsley was the offseason's most heartwarming story in 2023. The undrafted free-agent wide receiver rose from obscurity to secure a place on the 53-man roster. This was a major boost, but it didn't come with any genuine involvement during the regular season.

Tinsley was a victim of under-pressure coaches fighting for their jobs. He got another chance to impress this offseason but was waived by Peters. Providing the wideout clears waivers, he looks like a strong candidate for the practice squad.

Commanders waive Sam Hartman

Sam Hartman was always facing a losing battle this offseason. The undrafted free-agent quarterback got a decent guarantee from the Commanders to secure his services. However, an injury during his first preseason outing meant he got no more chances to impress in a typical game-day environment.

Hartman looks like a prime candidate for the practice squad if he clears waivers. He's got some likable traits and developed a close friendship with fellow rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. That seems like the most likely outcome all things considered.

Commanders waive Tariq Castro-Fields

It seemed for a long time as if Tariq Castro-Fields could cement his status in the cornerback room. He had the size and length normally associated with defensive backs in Quinn's system. After a strong start to Washington's offseason workouts, things tailed off over the last couple of weeks.

Castro-Fields is another who looks like a good bet to land on the practice squad. Considering the questions surrounding other cornerbacks in Washington, being elevated at some stage looks like a certainty in this scenario.

Commanders waived K.J. Henry

This one was a shock.

K.J. Henry was waived by the Commanders despite an outstanding offseason and dominant displays during the preseason. He looked like a player on the up, but this was not a sentiment shared by those in power.

Henry will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire, one suspects. He showed flashes over the second half of 2023 and seemed to build extra confidence this summer. The Commanders aren't exactly blessed with great pass-rushing depth either, so this looks like a strange one until proven otherwise.

Commanders waive Andre Jones Jr.

The Commanders also parted ways with Andre Jones Jr. as Peters' purge of Ron Rivera draft picks showed no mercy. This was less surprising than Henry's departure given the former seventh-round selection didn't make anything like the same impact.

Jones' contribution on special teams was impressive on occasion, but he was pretty far down the depth chart following an influx of new pass-rushing arrivals. The Louisiana product is a possibility for the practice squad if he doesn't catch on elsewhere.

Commanders waived Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. was seen by many as a lock to be the third running back behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. in 2024. He flashed moments of quality during limited rookie involvement and was relishing the prospect of enhancing his skill set further under improved coaches.

Unfortunately for the former sixth-round selection, he's treaded water while the likes of Michael Wiley and Jeremy McNichols flourished. Rodriguez went from a near-roster certainty to hanging by a thread in just a few short weeks. This eventually led to his demise, but securing a place on the practice squad cannot be ruled out entirely.

Commanders waive Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint

After making an immediate splash over early offseason workouts with a sensational catch, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint was tipped by many to be this year's Mitchell Tinsley. This didn't quite work out the way some hoped, with the former Georgia star going through a pedestrian camp before eventually getting his marching orders.

Rosemy-Jacksaint was probably expecting this outcome. Whether he'll make the practice squad over players like Tinsley and Martavis Bryant is the big question.

Commanders waive Michael Wiley

An impressive preseason was not enough for Michael Wiley to attain his place on the initial 53-man roster. This was moderately eye-raising considering Chris Rodriguez Jr was also let go.

Wiley displayed some smooth running and sound on-field vision throughout Washington's warmup slate. One could make a strong case for the undrafted free agent deserving a place on the team, but Peters had other ideas. A practice squad place seems realistic if he gets through waivers.

Commanders waive Chigozie Anusiem

Chigozie Anusiem came to the Commanders thanks to a lofty rookie guarantee after half the league was reportedly looking to secure his services in undrafted free agency. The cornerback flashed promise and boasted some intriguing physical attributes. Those in power felt like a little extra development was needed before he gets a look at the 53-man roster.

Anusiem is a lock to make the practice squad if he clears waivers. However, given how high interest was in the defensive back once the 2024 NFL Draft concluded, it remains to be seen whether the Commanders will get the chance to bring him back.

Commanders waive Brycen Tremayne

Brycen Tremayne's starring performance throughout training camp gave him a legitimate shot at earning a spot. The wide receiver's size and ability in contested catch situations saw countless splash catches during a frantic summer. He was unable to make his targets count during the preseason, which eventually led to his exclusion.

This is the second consecutive year Tremayne hasn't done enough to make the team. Whether he'll get another shot in the practice squad under the new regime hasn't been determined as yet, but it's a possibility.

Commanders waive Ricky Stromberg

It was not a good day for those who Rivera thought so highly of. Ricky Stromberg was waived with an injury designation after the Commanders failed to find a trade partner before the deadline. This comes just one season after Washington selected the Arkansas product at No. 97 overall.

Stromberg's rookie campaign was decimated by injury and poor performance. Once the Commanders brought in veteran Michael Deiter to become their backup center behind Tyler Biadasz, the writing was on the wall.

The Commanders are moving forward without Stromberg, at least for now. Whether bringing him back becomes an option is unclear.

Commanders waive Trace McSorely

The quarterback room was crowded, but injuries forced the Commanders to bring in Trace McSorely as an extremely late addition to the roster. He was the definition of a camp body, so it came as no surprise to see him waived despite an encouraging effort in Washington's last preseason outing against the Patriots.

This might be the last we see of McSorely in Washington. Sam Hartman is a likelier candidate for the practice squad, so the signal-caller could be UFL-bound to continue his journey.

Commanders waive Braeden Daniels

Another Rivera draft pick bites the dust. Braeden Daniels spent his rookie campaign on injured reserve after a horrific adjustment to the pros. There were signs of growth this summer but nothing substantial enough to guarantee the offensive lineman's place on the 53-man roster.

Daniels has position versatility, which works in his favor. However, one would be hard-pressed to find a roster place elsewhere, leaving him hoping for a practice squad berth in Washington or somewhere else in 2024.

Commanders waive Cole Turner

After failing to find a trade suitor, the Commanders waived tight end Cole Turner. Considering those in power preferred to keep undrafted free agent Colson Yankoff, this is a damning indictment of his progress.

Turner was expected to enjoy much better fortunes in 2023 but nothing substantial materialized. With the Commanders moving forward with Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, and John Bates, the former fifth-round selection's prospects looked grim from a long way out.

Commanders waived Kazmeir Allen

The Commanders gave Kazmeir Allen every opportunity to establish himself this offseason. He started as a wide receiver, got reps in the return game, and even saw carries as a running back out of the backfield. The undrafted free agent boasts some intriguing traits, but there's just something missing.

Washington might move on from Allen entirely considering this is his second offseason not making the roster. Time will tell on that one.

Commanders waived Anthony Pittman

This was a mild shock. Anthony Pittman was acquired this offseason and worked closely together with Lance Newmark on the Detroit Lions. Although he wasn't a factor on the defensive rotation, the player's exceptional special teams prowess left reasons for encouragement.

The Commanders have moved Dominique Hamtpon to the linebacking spots. He's a sixth-round selection picked by the current regime. That gave him an instant edge over Pittman despite his lack of experience.

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