Commanders News: Ron Rivera, Sam Howell, Camaron Cheeseman and Week 16
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines as the post-mortem concludes following their Week 15 loss at the Los Angeles Rams?
The dust is settling on another disappointing Washington Commanders loss that brought more questions than answers. Nothing had been adjusted effectively during the bye. Whatever message the coaching staff tried to get through didn't resonate. This is another sign of certain players downing tools and waiting to see what comes next.
Three games remain before the Commanders relieve many of their respective duties. As those in power attempt to remain professional despite the circumstances, the stories causing debate include an expected personnel move, Sam Howell's future, Ron Rivera adding to the confusion, and early odds for Week 16 at the New York Jets.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Commanders cut Camaron Cheeseman
After another woeful performance in Week 15, the writing was on the wall for Camaron Cheeseman. The long-snapper acknowledged as much during his post-game media availability, outlining his surprise that the Washington Commanders hadn't released him sooner after a troubling campaign.
This inevitable reaction came on Monday. The Commanders cut Cheeseman, with Ron Rivera stating they have a list of possibilities to replace the former sixth-round selection over the next three games.
Washington traded up to select Cheeseman at No. 225 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He couldn't find any sort of consistency and his botched snaps were putting others in harm's way more often than not.
While the move was welcomed, it came too late. This was akin to shutting the barn door after the horse had escaped. Another example of Rivera's loyalty and stubbornness getting in the way of smart roster moves.