The Washington Commanders are relying heavily on their established stars to lead the way once again in 2025. And after being a relative afterthought regarding starting reps throughout his career, there's a growing sense that more could be on the way for Jeremy Reaves this time around.
These signs have become abundantly clear over training camp. And based on the way that the veteran safety has applied himself, he's more than deserving of extended involvement.
Reaves has been seen as more of a special-teams ace throughout his career. He emerged from undrafted obscurity to become an All-Pro performer in this key discipline, earning his place as a fan favorite along the way. The former South Alabama standout is also a respected leader in the locker room, which was integral to head coach Dan Quinn's immediate culture shift.
Jeremy Reaves is clearly forcing his way into Commanders' defensive plans
Joe Whitt Jr. declared his intent to get Reaves more involved in the defensive rotation this season. The coordinator wants to utilize his instinctive playmaking ability that made him a special-teams phenom. The no-nonsense coach has been true to his word so far.
And those in attendance at training camp are noticing.
lotta work w the 1s today
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 12, 2025
The passionate player is getting plenty of reps with the first-string defense. Quan Martin and Will Harris are the likely safety starting partnership on the backend, but Reaves is doing more than enough to establish himself as the primary backup.
This is bringing a positive response from Reaves. The once-overlooked player sees the opportunity in front of him and is taking full advantage, making plays all over the field, no matter the setting.
Whether it's camp sessions, joint practice, or even during Washington's preseason game against the New England Patriots, Reaves' attitude remains the same. He always keeps the energy and urgency high. The fact that he had to fight for everything to firmly carve out an NFL career for himself keeps complacency out of the equation.
If the same trend continues over the next fortnight, expect to see Reaves' snaps significantly increase from the four he was allocated during the regular season in 2024. He'll still be tasked with leaving a lasting mark on special teams, but the Commanders are giving him a shot at so much more during the upcoming campaign.
And considering they also gave Reaves a new one-year deal that keeps him under contract until 2027, those in power are confident that he can meet the increased expectations coming his way.
That's a win-win for everybody.
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