Commanders initial 53-man roster prediction after 2023 preseason finale

Commanders RBs (3)

• Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson, Chris Rodriguez Jr.

This has been the lock for some time now. Brian Robinson Jr. will lead the Washington Commanders' running back room, with Antonio Gibson providing a change-of-pace option set to feature heavily in the passing game within Eric Bieniemy's creative system.

Bieniemy will rely on this duo heavily. But the prospect of giving rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. work right out of the gate has also increased after his outstanding summer.

Rodriguez averaged more than seven yards per carry from his preseason touches. His pass-blocking is also coming along nicely, so he is more than deserving of the No. 3 spot looking at the former Kentucky star's full body of work.

Commanders WRs (6)

• Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Byron Pringle, Mitchell Tinsley.

This was another difficult choice thanks in no small part to what many of the Commanders lower down the depth chart offer from a special teams' standpoint. But if there was any doubt, Mitchell Tinsley confirmed his status as the No. 6 option with an outstanding performance in Washington's preseason finale versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

This does pose a conundrum about who'll impact the return game, but that's in danger of becoming obsolete in any case given the new NFL rules. Therefore, six wideouts is the way to go depending on the severity of Terry McLaurin's toe complication.

Obviously, if the Commanders don't feel like McLaurin will be ready for a few weeks, bringing through seven or adding another via the waiver wire seems like the smart course of action. Something that would mean bad news for another hopeful.