Hundreds of NFL players received bad news on Tuesday as teams across the country slashed their rosters on the league’s dreaded cut-down day.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn has insisted that the 53-man squad left after Tuesday’s cut is not representative of his full team. He views the roster as a 70-person group, including the 17-person practice squad that will be finalized on Wednesday.
“Think of the two spaces, the 53 and the 70,” he said last week. “Everybody would also know that roster is also a little fluid, as it even starts in the earliest part of the season.”
Tuesday continued Quinn’s remake of the roster alongside second-year general manager Adam Peters. Only six players remain from former coach Ron Rivera’s four-year tenure that ended in 2023.
Around the league, former first-round picks like running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and linebacker Isaiah Simmons were cut. The Saints released Edwards-Helaire, who was originally drafted by the Chiefs, while the Packers cut ties with Simmons, a former top 10 pick by the Cardinals.
With dozens of now-former Commanders looking for new jobs, here’s where Washington’s roster stands heading into the season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 7:
Quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Josh Johnson.
The Commanders released fourth quarterback Sam Hartman, who struggled throughout the preseason. The second-year passer could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers, but Johnson will likely remain Washington’s third signal-caller throughout the season.
Running backs: Austin Ekeler, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols.
Quinn has routinely described his running backs as a deep group. The remaining rushers had a strong enough offseason that Peters felt comfortable sending former starter Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round draft pick over the weekend.
Wide receivers: Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane.
The Commanders released several receivers on Tuesday, including veterans K.J. Osborn and Chris Moore, along with undrafted rookies Ja’Corey Brooks and Jacoby Jones. At least one of those four will likely return to the practice squad as additional depth with only five receivers on the active roster.
Tight ends: Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff.
Bates and Ertz both earned new contracts this offseason, while Sinnott and Yankoff have shown improvements in their second year under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Yankoff’s speed — Ertz called him the fastest player on the team — will allow him to make an impact as a coverage man on special teams. Sinnott will look to hone his versatility behind the sure-handed Ertz and the blocking-focused Bates.
Offensive linemen: Laremy Tunsil, Brandon Coleman, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie, Josh Conerly Jr., Chris Paul, George Fant, Trent Scott.
The Commanders placed guard Sam Cosmi on the “physically unable to perform list” on Tuesday as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in last season’s playoff run. He will miss the season’s first four games, at least.
Washington signed Fant last week to provide additional depth for the group while Cosmi recovers, though Wylie will likely fill the right guard spot for the first month of the season.
Defensive linemen: Deatrich Wise Jr., Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Jacob Martin, Johnny Newton, Dorance Armstrong, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Eddie Goldman.
Edge rusher Clelin Ferrell, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 draft, was a surprise late cut for the Commanders. He started 10 games for Washington last season, recording three and a half sacks with a forced fumble. The offseason additions of Wise and D.C. natives Goldman and Kinlaw left him without a spot on the line.
The writing was on the wall. Ferrell played throughout the second half of Saturday’s preseason finale while the rest of the starters watched from the bench.
Linebackers: Von Miller, Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Kain Medrano, Jordan Magee, Nick Bellore, Ale Kaho.
Kaho, an undrafted rookie from UCLA, squeezed onto the roster after a strong showing in the preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens.
“He’s had a good run here on the special teams side of things. He is really just improving as it’s going,” Quinn said of Kaho on Saturday. “He’s worked really hard from the time minicamp ended to training camp. He’s really somebody that’s absolutely going for it.”
The unheralded rookie joins a group that features three former All-Pros in Miller, Wagner and Luvu.
Cornerbacks: Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, Mike Sainristil, Jonathan Jones, Noah Igbinoghene.
The Commanders settled on the top five cornerbacks relatively early after signing Jones in the spring. The front office felt so comfortable with the top four that they are listening to trade offers for Igbinoghene, according to multiple reports.
Amos, a second-round rookie, will likely start opposite Lattimore on the outside. Sainristil is expected to shift back to his natural slot position after playing multiple roles during an eye-catching rookie campaign last year.
Safeties: Will Harris, Quan Martin, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves, Tyler Owens.
Harris, a former New Orleans Saint, brings versatility to the Commanders’ secondary. He lined up in the slot, at linebacker and on the defensive line last year in addition to his traditional safety role.
He is expected to join the starting rotation along with Martin, who has received countless praises from coaches and teammates for his emerging leadership abilities.
Specialists: long snapper Tyler Ott, punter Tress Way, kicker Matt Gay.
Way enters this season — his 12th in Washington — as the longest-tenured Commander. Payne is the next closest as he embarks on his ninth year in the District.