After weeks of training camp and three preseason games, the Commanders have whittled their roster down to 53 players. There were many players who didn’t see reps during practice or games who were likely to end up as final cuts. But a handful of players entered Friday’s preseason finale in tight position battles.
Here’s a look at some of the more surprising cuts, followed by a complete list of players released this weekend.
Center Julian Good-Jones
This wasn’t as much of a surprise as it was a well-known secret. The Commanders opened training camp with plans for Nick Allegretti to move into the starting center role, but those hopes were dashed early when Allegretti went down with an injury. Good-Jones took a majority of the reps in Allegretti’s absence, and it didn’t go well. On the first offensive possession of the Lions game, he missed a block that led to a pressure on Jayden Daniels. Rookie Matt Gulbin replaced him soon after, a sign of things to come.
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Defensive tackle Byron Cowart
Since the first preseason game against the Dolphins on Aug. 14, it seemed like a two-way battle between Cowart and Ricky Barber for a backup spot on the defensive line. Barber, who was a member of the team’s practice squad last season, had one sack this preseason and tied for the team lead in tackles (14) and hits on the quarterback (3). While Cowart didn’t register a sack, he registered 10 tackles (two for loss) and two quarterback hits. Two of his pressures against Miami led to interceptions. In the end, Barber may have seemed more versatile at penetrating the line and defending the run.
Quarterback Sam Hartman
Hartman, a 2024 undrafted free agent, spent the past two seasons shuttling between the team’s practice squad and the active roster. He seemed destined for that fate again this season before rookie Athan Kaliakmanis took off in the preseason. Hartman (65% completion rate, 211 yards, 0 touchdowns) and Kaliakmanis (64.9%, 294 yards, 0 touchdowns) had similar numbers, but it was the rookie who showed a higher ceiling, particularly with long throws to Jaden Bradley and Nick Nash against Detroit.
Defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and cornerback Fabian Moreau
Moreau and Tuttle are the biggest surprises on this list. Tuttle stepped in because of injuries to Daron Payne and Tim Settle, and he has performed pretty well this summer. Moreau was one of the 41 players who sat out the preseason finale against the Ravens on Friday, which normally signals a player is safe. But their inclusion in this list could very well be a technicality: A team source said both will probably be re-signed Monday after the team moves left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton to injured reserve.
Offensive lineman Max Scharping
Scharping’s release means guard Tanoa Togiai is the biggest winner on the offensive line. The undrafted free agent from Utah didn’t generate much buzz out of camp until the final week. As of now, the 6-foot-6 Togiai is the only backup guard on the roster.
Wide receiver Van Jefferson
Jefferson was a casualty of the roster crunch created by Stefon Diggs’ arrival. The seven-year veteran was one of the more consistent players through camp, getting shout-outs from coach Dan Quinn on multiple occasions. But once Diggs was signed Aug. 7, Jefferson became expendable. Two of the team’s seven receiver spots were taken by returners Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey, which left Jefferson battling Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks for reps.
Other players cut this weekend:
LB Krys Barnes
LB Boogie Basham
S Joshuah Bledsoe
WR Jaden Bradley
OL Daniel Brunskill
TE Lawrence Cager
CB Fred Davis II
CB Antonio Hamilton Sr.
C Trey Hill
RB Robert Henry Jr.
DT Maurice Hurst II
LB Curtis Jacobs
LB DJ Johnson
S Quindell Johnson
WR Jacoby Jones
LB Ale Kaho
S Qwuantrezz Knight
TE Tre’ McKitty
DT Jeffrey M’Ba
WR Nick Nash
TE Quentin Moore
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
RB Craig Reynolds
CB Darius Rush
OL Trent Scott
CB Car’lin Vigers
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