Whew, talk about hitting the ground running! The Commanders are fresh off a preseason win against the Dolphins last Friday night, but if you thought things would be chill after a walkthrough, think again. Before they even hit the practice field Tuesday morning, Washington unleashed a whirlwind of roster moves. This isn’t just a minor shuffle; they signed *four* new players, showed two the door, and officially sidelined a couple of others. It feels like we’re already in mid-season form with this kind of roster drama!
They’re Bringing in the Cavalry, Because They Have To
Washington just dropped four new names onto the roster, and it’s crystal clear they are scrambling for depth, especially with guys dropping like flies. First up, we’ve got linebacker Krys Barnes in the mix. Why the urgent need for a linebacker, you ask? Well, Jordan Magee mysteriously missed Tuesday’s practice, so Barnes looks like an immediate depth grab until we get more info on Magee’s situation. On the offensive side, they scooped up running back Craig Reynolds. Get this, he used to be a teammate of their offensive coordinator, David Blough! That RB room is already looking thin, with Jerome Ford nursing an injury and Jeremy McNichols dealing with a quad issue. They also added tight end Trey McKitty.
But honestly, the most head-turning move has to be bringing in defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II. The guy is 31, an absolute beast back in his Michigan All-American days, and has bounced around with the Raiders, 49ers, and Browns. Why the immediate call-up for Hurst? Because defensive tackle Johnny Newton is reportedly banged up and also sat out Tuesday’s practice. It really seems like they are trying to patch up that D-line with a veteran presence, right now. Talk about an early test of their depth!
Cutting Ties Early, And A Rookie Is Stepping Up?!
To make room for all that new talent, some guys had to hit the road. Punter Matt Haack was released, which makes sense since Tress Way is back at practice after dealing with his own injury earlier in camp. But the really eyebrow-raising decision was letting go of kicker Jake Moody. They actually released him on Monday, which means they are already committing to undrafted rookie Drew Stevens as their kicker for the season. That is a seriously bold play, putting all your faith in a rookie for such a crucial position, and so early in the preseason! You gotta wonder what that means for their special teams unit, huh?
And on top of all that, wide receiver River Cracraft and running back Jerome Ford officially got stashed on the reserve/injured list. Man, injuries are already calling the shots for a ton of these early roster decisions. It’s a brutal start, honestly.
So, a wild few days for the Commanders with all these roster shake-ups, and the regular season hasn’t even kicked off yet. With more practice ahead, and those crucial preseason games still to play, it’s gonna be super interesting to watch how these new additions integrate and if that rookie kicker can handle the pressure. Man, it’s only preseason, but for Washington, it already feels like things are heating up fast with all these changes. Let’s see what happens next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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