Commanders look to put roster ‘puzzle’ together before final cutdown

The clock started ticking as soon as Washington’s preseason ended on Sunday.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday to trim their 91-man training camp roster down to 53 players. 

“It’s a puzzle to put together,” Quinn said Sunday. “But we’ll spend a bunch more time here over the next couple days and just make sure we can find the right fit for the team.” 

Quinn and Peters have remade Washington’s squad this offseason — the club featured the highest rate of roster turnover in the league. 

Here is a projection for the initial 53-man roster ahead of the Commanders’ season opener against the Buccaneers on Sept. 8. 

Quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota

The top two quarterback spots have been set for weeks in Washington. Daniels and Mariota have split almost all of the first-team snaps since training camp began. Quinn and Peters could stash veteran Jeff Driskel or undrafted rookie Sam Hartman on the practice squad as insurance. Mariota has dealt with a groin injury throughout camp while Daniels’ slim stature raised durability concerns during the pre-draft process. 

Running backs: Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Michael Wiley

The competition for the third (and likely final) running back spot continued through the preseason finale. Veterans Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols boast more NFL experience, but rookie Michael Wiley has saved his best performances for the preseason games, notching a pair of touchdowns and showing his blocking prowess.

Wide receivers: Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey, Kazmeir Allen, Jamison Crowder

After trading away former first-round pick Jahan Dotson, Washington’s wide receiver room looks thin behind McLaurin, a former Pro Bowler and fan favorite. Brown, Zaccheaus, Crowder and McCaffrey appear to be locks to make the roster as they sat out the final preseason game. Allen — who has taken snaps at wide receiver, running back and returner — is primed to sneak onto the 53-man roster due to his positional versatility. Big-bodied receivers Martavis Bryant and Brycen Tremayne would be top candidates for the practice squad.

Tight ends: Zach Ertz, John Bates, Ben Sinnott

The sure-handed but aging Ertz became a favorite target for the quarterbacks during training camp while Bates flashed his mauling blocking ability during preseason action. Rookie second-rounder Sinnott will rotate in for a versatile role — he appeared on highlight reels for his run-after-catch ability during the first preseason game against the Jets.

Offensive linemen: Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie, Chris Paul, Michael Deiter, Cornelius Lucas, Trent Scott

The Commanders overhauled their offensive line during the offseason after allowing the second-most sacks in the NFL last season. Coleman, a third-round selection from TCU, earned his way to the starting lineup before a pectoral injury sidelined him in the final weeks of camp. Fellow new additions Biadasz and Allegretti will join him as Daniels’ personal protectors. 

Interior defensive linemen: Jonathan Allen, Jer’Zhan Newton, Daron Payne, John Ridgeway, Phidarian Mathis

The strength of Washington’s roster lies in its interior defensive line. Allen and Payne are among the best tackles in the league while rookie Newton possesses the speed and agility to shoot gaps as he rotates into the lineup. Nigerian player Haggai Ndubuisi is an obvious choice to fill the additional international spot on the practice squad.

Edge rushers: Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, Clelin Ferrell, KJ Henry, Jamin Davis

The edge rushing rotation is full of question marks. Armstrong, Fowler and Ferrell are steady presences with NFL experience, but it’s unclear if they’ll will move the needle as pass rushers. Jamin Davis could scrape onto the final roster after transitioning from off-ball linebacker to the edge position this offseason. Look for seventh-round draft pick Javonte Jean-Baptiste to fill a practice squad spot. 

Linebackers: Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Mykal Walker, Dominique Hampton

Wagner and Luvu will anchor the defense with the flexibility to rush the passer, fill running lanes and drop into pass coverage. Rookie Jordan Magee will likely start the season with an injury designation as he recovers from a meniscus injury. That leaves free-agent addition Walker and Hampton, a rookie from Washington who has taken snaps at safety and linebacker, to slot onto the initial depth chart.

Cornerbacks: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Benjamin St-Juste, Mike Sainristil, Tariq Castro-Fields, Michael Davis, Noah Igbinoghene

The cornerbacks — like the edge rushers — are another group that lacks star power. However, rookie Sainristil has shined in training camp, covering every receiver during practice and becoming a heat-seeking missile during live preseason reps. The Michigan product could develop into a star in the slot, but question marks remain on the outside. Veterans Davis and St-Juste will likely top the depth chart as 2023 first-round pick Forbes struggled during training camp and joint practices.

Safeties: Jeremy Chinn, Jartavius Martin, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves, Darrick Forrest, Tyler Owens

One of the deepest groups on Washington’s roster. Chinn appears to fit Quinn’s archetype for safeties — big, fast players who can drop in the box to play the run while possessing the speed to patrol the middle of the defense. Undrafted rookie Owens was a training camp standout who jumped off the tape with his athleticism and tackling ability on defense and special teams. 

Specialists: Long snapper Tyler Ott, kicker Cade York, punter Tress Way

The ever-reliable Way and new long snapper Ott have had an uneventful preseason. The same can’t be said for the four kickers the Commanders have used this offseason. York, who the Commanders added for a conditional seventh-round pick, did enough on Sunday to keep the job heading into the regular season. The Auburn product converted two field goals and two extra points without issue.