The Washington Commanders worked out six players on Tuesday before preparations for their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles gathered pace. Although relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things, one name on the list might mean more than fans think.
D.J. Johnson, an aging, developmental edge rusher who failed to meet even modest expectations with the Carolina Panthers, was among those who got a tryout. This follows on from the Commanders claiming Shy Tuttle, another ex-Panthers flop, off waivers following his abrupt departure from the Tennessee Titans.
It may be a coincidence. It may also be a sign that Scott Fitterer's influence in the front office could be increasing.
And that's a problem.
Scott Fitterer could be behind two Commanders moves that raise concern
Adam Peters calls the shots, of course. Lance Newmark is his right-hand man. However, it's a collaborative process. Fitterer joined the franchise after being fired as the Panthers' general manager. The personnel executive no doubt vouched for these retreads down on their luck. After all, he was the brain who brought them to Carolina at the time.
Tuttle joined in 2023 free agency and never came close to meeting expectations. Fitterer panicked in the 2023 NFL Draft when edge rushers began to fly off his board, trading up for Johnson. He was a six-year college prospect who was largely expected to be selected on Day 3 or not at all. The Panthers took him at No. 80, and they traded up for the privilege.
As expected, Johnson's time in Carolina was disastrous. It was also a microcosm of how ineffective Fitterer was at running a football operation. He was a respected talent evaluator with the Seattle Seahawks before that, but it was clear from early on that the front-office leadership position wasn't for him.
Desperate times call for desperate measures right now. The Commanders are barely stumbling to the finish line amid widespread injuries. They are papering over the cracks before one of the most critical offseasons in recent memory. Things will probably look a lot different when the real recruitment begins. Still, the last thing Washington needs is players from one of the most dismal eras in Carolina's franchise history.
Tuttle probably won't return. Based on Johnson's output since entering the league, it's unlikely that he made a good enough impression to get a deal. However, these moves show that Fitterer has a more decisive say than fans initially envisaged.
It might be nothing, but if a few more mistakes from Fitterer's disappointing spell in Carolina end up with the Commanders, that will tell fans all they need to know.
Watch this space.