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Jamison Crowder

Commanders Activate Jamison Crowder, Elevate Greg Joseph

December 14th, 2024 at 9:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jamison Crowder returned to practice this week, signaling that he could be an option for the Commanders in Week 15. The veteran receiver/returner has indeed been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

A calf injury suffered in Week 3 has kept Crowder out of the fold until this point. He is now healthy, though, and as a result he could take on a returner role for the closing stages of the season. Of course, playing time on offense could also be possible in Crowder’s case.

Noah Brown has been moved to injured reserve, which comes as no surprise. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday Brown is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign, and an IR stint ensures at least a four-week absence. Brown will therefore not be available until at least the wild-card round of the postseason should Washington (8-5) qualify. Crowder has made only 17 catches since joining the Commanders last year, so expectations in that regard will be limited upon return.

In other roster news, Washington has elevated Greg Joseph from the practice squad. The veteran kicker was added to the team’s taxi squad yesterday, and he will provide insurance at the position. Zane Gonzalez practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, but over the past two sessions he has been listed as a full participant. It would therefore come as a surprise if Gonzalez was forced to miss tomorrow’s game, but if that proves to be the case Joseph will be available to take his place.

The Commanders sit only 18th in the NFL in passing yards per game (221) despite rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ strong campaign. Losing Brown could deal a blow to the team’s offense given his status as the top complementary WR option to Terry McLaurin, but if Washington is to reach the playoffs he will not be part of the equation the rest of the way.

Commanders WR Jamison Crowder Returns To Practice

December 9th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders will have a returner option available as early as Week 15. The team announced on Monday that  Jamison Crowder has been designated for return.

The veteran will also be in place as a depth receiver once he is back in the fold, of course. Crowder now has 21 days to be activated and avoid reverting to season-ending injured reserve. He has been out of the picture since he suffered a calf injury in Week 3.

The 31-year-old spent last season in Washington, where he began in NFL career. Crowder made only 20 catches in 2023, but he totaled 35 punt returns and posted an average of 7.9 yards per return. Once back on the roster, he will be a candidate to reprise that special teams role (although before getting injured Crowder did not register any kick or punt returns this season).

The former fourth-rounder was a regular offensive contributor during his first stint in the nation’s capital, and that remained the case during his three seasons with the Jets. Crowder only made four appearances with the Bills in 2022, and expectations were low when he took a one-year Commanders deal last September. His level of play on special teams led to another modest commitment, though, this time from Washington’s new regime led by general manager Adam Peters.

As Crowder looks to carve out a depth role on offense and/or special teams, Washington will prepare for a key stretch to close out the campaign. Sitting at 8-5 on the year, the Commanders are in a wild-card spot but are far from guaranteed to have a postseason berth with the Rams only one game back. Coming off the bye, the team will have another healthy option in place in time for its next contest provided Crowder is activated in the next few days. Once he is brought back, the Commanders will have four IR activations remaining on the year.

Commanders’ Marcus Mariota, Efe Obada, Jordan Magee Return To Practice

October 2nd, 2024 at 2:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and they could have a number of reinforcements in the fold soon. Among the players who returned to practice on Wednesday is backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

The 30-year-old was placed on injured reserve just before the start of the regular season. That move guaranteed a four-game absence, so today’s news is a sign he has recovered in full while returning to action when first eligible. Mariota will be able to dress as Jayden Daniels‘ backup provided he is activated in time for Week 5.

After the Commanders traded away Sam Howell, it became clear the organization would invest in a new passer via the draft. Mariota was brought in on a one-year deal to provide experienced depth capable of handling first-team duties on a temporary basis if needed. The play of Daniels to date has not created any doubt about his readiness for NFL duties, although Mariota did see some starter’s reps during the summer before this year’s second overall pick was placed atop the depth chart.

After the end of his five-year run in Tennessee, Mariota has bounced around the NFL. The Oregon product spent the 2020 and ’21 seasons as a backup with the Raiders before his single campaign in Atlanta the following year. Mariota logged 13 starts during his Falcons tenure, but neither he nor the team’s offense impressed in that time. Last season, he worked as the Eagles’ QB2 and made just three appearances.

As long as Daniels remains healthy, he will remain atop the depth chart for the 3-1 Commanders. Mariota’s return would leave Jeff Driskel as Washington’s third-string passer while letting undrafted rookie Sam Hartman develop on the practice squad. Mariota seeing the field at some point would allow him to help his free agent value ahead of next offseason and add to his 90 games (including 74 starts) of experience.

In other roster news, defensive end Efe Obada has been designated for return from the PUP list. The 32-year-old was limited to only five games with Washington last season, but he recorded between 3.5 and 5.5 sacks in each of the three previous campaigns. Obada should continue in a rotational role along the edge once he is activated. Fifth-round round rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, meanwhile, had his practice window opened after he was designated for return from IR before the roster cutdown deadline.

Washington also placed Jamison Crowder on injured reserve. The veteran wideout is dealing with a calf injury, and he will now miss at least four games. Crowder, 31, returned to the nation’s capital in 2023 after beginning his career there, and he played all 17 games. The pending free agent will look to get back on the field and into the Commanders’ receiver rotation once healthy.

WR Jamison Crowder Re-Signing With Commanders

March 13th, 2024 at 6:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Jamison Crowder‘s second stint in DC is set to continue. According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, the veteran wideout is returning to the Commanders on a new one-year deal.

The Commanders’ front office has been busy so far in free agency, bringing in a number of attractive names while also keeping some contributors home. Crowder is the latest to join that group. The 30-year-old will be heading into the second year of his second stint with the team after spending three years with the Jets and a fourth in Buffalo.

Crowder’s best seasons came early in his career, delivering two strong seasons each with both Washington and New York. Injuries derailed his final season in Washington and his last two years with the Jets, and his short stint in Buffalo ended with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 4. He signed with the third New York team last offseason, but the Giants released him just prior to the start of the regular season.

Crowder rebounded by signing to the Commanders’ practice squad a week later, getting promoted to the active roster just five days after that. Crowder’s contribution in 2023 was far from what he provided years ago, but he is a reliable, veteran backup on a team loaded with young talent at receiver. He also served as the team’s primary punt returner, breaking off a season-long 61-yarder in Week 6.

Fellow receivers Curtis Samuel and Byron Pringle are also free agents, so Crowder returns to play alongside Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Dyami Brown. The team may still attempt to bring back Samuel or Pringle, or they may try to replace their production through the draft. Regardless, they have Crowder in the fold as a veteran backup and an experienced return man.

Commanders Add WR Jamison Crowder To Active Roster

September 11th, 2023 at 1:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTEMBER 11: After playing in the Commanders’ Week 1 win and operating as their punt returner, Crowder will remain in the fold moving forward. The veteran has been signed to the team’s 53-man roster, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

SEPTEMBER 6: Crowder is indeed coming back to Washington. The former Jay Gruden-era pass catcher will join Rivera’s team on a practice squad deal.

SEPTEMBER 5: Although many teams released vested veterans upon cutting their rosters down to 53 and then brought them back — via an active-roster deal after an IR move took place elsewhere on the roster or via a practice squad invite — soon after. The Giants did not prioritize Jamison Crowder after cutting him, however.

Even as Wan’Dale Robinson finishes up his recovery from an ACL tear and Cole Beasley battles an injury that led to him going on the practice squad injured list, the Giants did not bring back Crowder. Back in free agency, Crowder is beginning to receive interest. The Commanders brought in Crowder for a Tuesday visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Crowder, of course, began his career in Washington. Plenty has changed since — from the staff to the quarterback to the team name — but the Ron Rivera–Martin Mayhew regime is interested in the 30-year-old slot receiver. Crowder is coming off an abbreviated season, when a fractured ankle stopped his Bills campaign after four games. But the 5-foot-9 wideout was previously a productive player with Washington and the Jets, compiling 600-plus yards in five seasons since being a 2015 fourth-round pick.

Beginning his career as the inside option in Kirk Cousins-led attacks, Crowder rose in the team’s pass-game pecking order after the free agency exits of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in 2017. Crowder led the 2017 Washington edition in receiving, though his career-high yardage total remains the 847 — to go with a career-best seven TD receptions — he totaled in 2016 alongside Jackson and Garcon. The Jets gave Crowder a three-year, $28.5MM contract in 2019.

Sam Darnold‘s steadiest target, Crowder combined to score 12 TDs during the former No. 3 overall pick’s final two Jets seasons. The Jets reduced Crowder’s pay in 2021, upon hiring Robert Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur, and he averaged a career-worst 8.8 yards per reception in Zach Wilson‘s rookie season. Crowder joined the Bills on a one-year, $2MM deal and only received $28K guaranteed from the Giants this offseason.

The Commanders have a key injury issue at receiver entering the season. Terry McLaurin has rested for over a week now with turf toe. The longtime No. 1 target, who arrived a month after Crowder left, is uncertain for Week 1. Washington has used extensive resources in recent years upgrading McLaurin’s supporting cast, using a first-round pick on Jahan Dotson in 2022 — a year after giving Curtis Samuel a three-year, $34.5MM deal. In addition to the three starters, the Commanders have four more receivers rostered. Ex-Eric Bieniemy Chiefs cog Byron Pringle joins 2021 third-rounder Dyami Brown, 2021 seventh-rounder Dax Milne and rookie UDFA Mitchell Tinsley at the position.

McLaurin is not out of the mix for Week 1 just yet, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, who notes the team has hope for its top target to be ready in time.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/23

September 9th, 2023 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

We have our first flood of pregame transactions of the season today as teams across the league with games tomorrow utilize their two permitted practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Promoted from practice squad: LB Brevin Allen

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Promoted from practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin, OLB Benton Whitley

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Commanders DE Chase Young To Miss Week 1

September 9th, 2023 at 12:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Chase Young has dealt with his fair share of injuries through three seasons in the NFL, and it looks like he won’t enter a crucial 2023 campaign unscathed. The Commanders announced that the pass rusher has been downgraded to out for the season opener. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first with the news.

[RELATED: Commanders Will Not Exercise Chase Young’s Fifth-Year Option]

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news for Young. Pelissero notes that the defensive end has been cleared for contact in practice, an indication that he could be ready to go for Week 2. ESPN’s John Keim writes that the team wanted to see how the player responded to contact in practice before making him active. Young has been dealing with a neck stinger since the team’s preseason opener.

The former second-overall pick was Defensive Rookie of the Year after collecting 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 12 QB hits. His numbers were down to start his sophomore campaign before he was sidelined by a torn ACL and patellar tendon in his right knee.

Young made his return to the active roster in Week 12 of last season, but he was inactive for three weeks before finally making his season debut in Week 15. The 24-year-old ended up being limited to only three appearances in 2022, finishing with five tackles while appearing in 65 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Following the season, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option, making the pass rusher a free agent following the 2023 campaign.

As Keim notes, the Commanders could be down some significant DL depth against the Cardinals. James Smith-Williams is questionable with an oblique issue, and the recent injuries ultimately forced the team to re-sign William Bradley-King after cutting the defensive lineman in August.

The Commander also announced that wideout Jamison Crowder has been elevated from the practice squad. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes that the veteran is expected to serve as the team’s primary punt returner during the season opener. Crowder started his career in Washington, spending four years with the organization. In the time since, he had a three-year stint with the Jets before signing with the Bills for the 2022 campaign. The 30-year-old was with the Giants during the preseason before catching on with Washington’s practice squad earlier this week.

Giants To Activate WR Wan’Dale Robinson From PUP List, Release WR Jamison Crowder

August 29th, 2023 at 8:25am CST by Sam Robinson

Short on wide receivers last season, the Giants made several modest investments at the position this year. Those moves came as Wan’Dale Robinson rehabbed a torn ACL. Robinson’s return, however, will end up bumping one of those vets off the roster.

The Giants are releasing Jamison Crowder, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report. As Crowder comes off the Giants’ roster, Robinson will return. Stashed on the active/PUP list throughout training camp and the preseason, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes the 2022 second-round pick will not stay on the list to start the season.

One of several slot receivers on Brian Daboll’s second Giants roster, Robinson went down midway through last season. Had the Giants left Robinson on the PUP list, he would have been required to miss four regular-season games. The Giants will instead go week to week with the Kentucky alum, who played in only six games as a rookie.

During an offseason in which Big Blue hoarded slot receivers, Crowder arrived on a one-year, $1.32MM deal that included only $28K guaranteed. The latter figure made Crowder far from certain to land on the Giants’ 53-man roster. The Giants also added Parris Campbell and Cole Beasley, bringing back Sterling Shepard on a low-cost deal as well. Darius Slayton also re-signed with the team, while waiver claim-turned-regular Isaiah Hodgins remains as well. The Giants also drafted Jalin Hyatt in Round 3.

Crowder, 30, has five 600-plus-yard receiving seasons on his resume. The former Washington slot receiver caught on with the Jets in 2019, becoming a regular target during Sam Darnold’s early seasons. The diminutive target was not making a major transition, system-wise, as he spent last year with the Bills. But a fractured ankle led to Crowder’s season ending early. He will again look for a new team.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/23

July 30th, 2023 at 7:20pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves around the league to wrap up the weekend:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Igwebuike, the former safety-turned-running back, likely won’t have a role in a crowded running backs room that currently includes rookie top-ten pick Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Cordarrelle Patterson. He does have some experience on kick return, where he could compete with Patterson and Avery Williams for a role.

The Rams added some quality, experienced depth today in Freeman. While he’s failed to reach the success he found as a primary backup in his first two seasons, Freeman should have plenty of tread on the tires at only 27 years old with minimal usage over the past three years. Behind starter Cam Akers, Los Angeles only has second-year Kyren Williams and rookie sixth-rounder Zach Evans, so bringing in an experienced backup like Freeman should be beneficial.

The Giants add two depth pieces back to their beat-up receiving corps. Getting them back into the fold will be beneficial for training camp. Meanwhile, across the way, new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get to work with his old teammate, Cobb, once again.

The retirement of Pottebaum comes as a bit of a shock so early into camp. The Iowa-product was a part of Pittsburgh’s small, seven-man undrafted free agent class this year. Not only that, but heading into camp, Pottebaum was also the only fullback listed on the roster. He was in attendance for the Steelers’ first week of training camp, as well, but now appears to be on his way out. This doesn’t leave Pittsburgh completely high and dry as the team was already exploring the option of utilizing tight end Connor Heyward in a role more similar to what he played in college. Heyward could earn a much larger role in his sophomore season by taking on a few more snaps at fullback.

Contract Details: Hardman, Foreman, Edmunds, Crowder, Seumalo, Dillard

March 26th, 2023 at 9:55pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on recent new contracts around the NFL:

  • Andre Dillard, T (Titans): Three years, $29MM. The contract, according to McLane, has a guaranteed amount of $13MM, $10MM of which is guaranteed at signing. The $10MM consists of a $5.99MM signing bonus, Dillard’s first year salary of $1.01MM, and $3MM of his second year base salary (worth a total of $9MM). The remaining $3MM of guaranteed money is also part of Dillard’s 2024 salary and fully guarantees on the fifth league day of the 2024 season. His 2025 base salary is worth a total of $11.5MM. The deal includes a per game active roster bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000. Dillard can also receive an additional $2MM in playing time incentives. The Titans built a potential out into the contract that allows the team to cut Dillard after 2024 with $3.59MM in dead cap but $16.79MM in cap savings over the following three years, two of which are void years.
  • Isaac Seumalo, G (Steelers): Three years, $24MM. The deal, according to McLane, has a guaranteed amount of $6.95MM composed of Seumalo’s signing bonus. He’ll receive a base salary of $1.3MM in 2023, $7.88MM in 2024, and $6.88MM in 2025. Seumalo can also receive a 2025 roster bonus of $1MM that guarantees on the third league day of the 2025 season.
  • Mecole Hardman, WR (Jets): One year, $4.5MM. The deal, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, has a guaranteed amount of $4.08MM, $3MM of which is the signing bonus guaranteed at signing. Hardman’s 2023 cap hit will be $1.88MM due to four void years used to spread out his cap numbers. He’ll have an opportunity to make an additional $2MM from incentives this year.
  • D’Onta Foreman, RB (Bears): One year, $2MM. The contract according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, has a guaranteed amount of $1MM consisting of a $375,000 signing bonus and $625,000 of his base salary (worth a total of $1.53MM). Foreman can earn an additional $1MM from incentives based on rushing yards, touchdowns, and the playoffs to push the maximum value of his contract to $3MM.
  • Terrell Edmunds, S (Eagles): One year, $2MM. The deal, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, has a guaranteed amount of $600,000 consisting of a $250,000 signing bonus and $350,000 of his 2023 base salary (worth a total of $1.08MM). The contract includes a per game active roster bonus of $39,411 for a potential season total of $670,000. Edmunds can also receive an additional $850,000 in incentives based on team improvements and individual performance.
  • Jamison Crowder, WR (Giants): One year, $1.32MM. The contract, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, has a guaranteed amount of $27,500 composed of Crowder’s signing bonus. The deal includes a per game active roster bonus of $5,882 for a potential season total of $100,000.
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