Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is currently preparing his players for some stern upcoming challenges during the 2025 season. But many of the current personnel won't be around when Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives.
Adam Peters is already making changes. These will ramp up in the coming days with final cuts on the immediate horizon. And with one preseason game left versus the Baltimore Ravens, there isn't much time remaining to alter perceptions.
The Commanders have no room for passengers this season. They've gone from a surprise package to a leading Super Bowl challenger quicker than expected. That raises the stakes considerably, especially considering Peters pushed his chips into the middle with a win-now approach throughout his second recruitment period.
Most decisions have already been made. Peters will know where his roster is right now and what more is needed to give their playoff push another shot in the arm. Some are easier to figure out than others. But for many, this weekend's warmup encounter is the end of the road.
With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players who probably won't play another snap in Washington after final cuts.
Commanders players who won’t play another snap in Washington after final cuts
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
Let's get the most obvious one out of the way. And the Washington Commanders could remove running back Brian Robinson Jr. from the equation in some capacity long before cut-down day.
It looked for a long time as if Robinson would lead the backfield once again in 2025. His physical running style complements what pass-catching specialist Austin Ekeler brings to the table. Unfortunately for the former third-round pick out of Alabama, his fate shifted quickly.
Rumors of a departure surfaced first. Then, another report confirmed that the Commanders were shopping Robinson on the trade market. This was swiftly followed by the player being excused from Washington's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals and practice.
Head coach Dan Quinn revealed that he hopes to have more information on Robinson's status sooner rather than later. Peters is working to find a willing trade suitor. The compensation won't be much, but it'll be better than nothing. If not, then the Commanders will likely release him, eating $3.4 million in dead cap money along the way.
The Commanders are confident that young players like Chris Rodriguez Jr. and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt can step up. They have Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols as the experienced duo. Robinson is no longer part of the team's long-term strategy.