HEADLINES

Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Cowboys To Place DT Jordan Phillips On IR

September 18th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Sam Robinson

One of two 30-something defensive tackles the Cowboys acquired just before the season, Jordan Phillips will not make it to Week 3 on the team’s active roster. The team is placing the veteran D-lineman on IR, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins.

A wrist injury will move Phillips off the roster. This is familiar territory for the well-traveled veteran, who finished last season on IR due to a wrist ailment. The Giants traded Phillips to the Cowboys in mid-August, with that transaction preceding the team’s Linval Joseph addition.

The Cowboys are planning to sign Carlos Watkins to take Phillips’ roster spot, All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill tweets. Watkins is currently on the Commanders’ practice squad, meaning he must spend at least three weeks on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster due to this poaching. Watkins played the 2021 and ’22 seasons in Dallas before moving on.

Offering an interesting take on this development, Phillips said Wednesday (via Hill) nothing is wrong with his wrist. As such, his status with the organization will be worth monitoring after two games in uniform. The Cowboys are, however, calling this a sprained wrist and are exercising caution, Calvin Watkins adds. Phillips underwent surgery following his 2023 injury, per the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore, but is not expected to need another procedure. This is an interesting back-and-forth, though Phillips’ place on the backup tier reduces its relevance.

Phillips, who will turn 32 this week, must miss at least four games. He has played in both Cowboys contests as a backup, recording two tackles on 34 defensive snaps. The Cowboys brought in Phillips and Joseph to help shore up their run defense. That effort has not gone especially well, with the Saints rampaging for 190 yards on the ground in their stunning Week 2 romp. Joseph has logged 37 snaps as a backup DT.

The Giants signed Phillips, whose Bills tenure overlapped with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, this offseason but dealt him to their division rivals in a low-end pick-swap agreement. The Cowboys sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants for Phillips and a 2026 seventh-rounder. By playing in two games, Phillips has already satisfied the conditions of the trade in order for the picks to transfer.

Buffalo turned back to Phillips as a starter following DaQuan Jones‘ pec tear last season, and the multi-stint Bill started nine games with the team. Pro Football Focus rated Phillips as one of the league’s worst interior D-linemen in 2023. Phillips’ best work came in 2019, when he led the Bills with 9.5 sacks ahead of a nice Cardinals contract. Arizona bailed on that deal after two seasons, leading the former Dolphins second-round pick back to Buffalo in 2022.

Watkins, 30, also brings extensive experience to the equation. One of a few ex-Cowboys to rejoin Dan Quinn in Washington, Watkins landed in the nation’s capital after the Rams cut him late last month. Watkins joined Washington’s practice squad soon after. Watkins started 18 Cowboys games from 2021-22. He played in one Commanders game this season but will now be set to join Joseph, Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa on Dallas’ DT depth chart.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/24

September 17th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: T Marcellus Johnson
  • Released: T Ricky Lee

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Commanders

Woods joins the Falcons’ practice squad after a workout last week that also included veterans Kwon Alexander and Rashaan Evans.

The Browns are adding Freeman after the seven-year veteran was released by the Cowboys before the regular season. Freeman could potentially pitch in as the team keeps working without Nick Chubb.

Yeast becomes the next former-Rams defensive back to join the Panthers. Current Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero used to serve as the secondary coach in Los Angeles, and Yeast joins Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, and Troy Hill as former students of Evero to sign a deal with the Panthers.

Chosen’s time off the Dolphins’ practice squad could be a short one. Chosen was called up as a standard gameday elevation twice in the first two weeks of the season, reaching his limit for the year. If the team re-signs him to a new practice squad contract, his count should start over.

Reagor saw 11 games and a start last year for New England, catching seven passes for 138 yards as a deep threat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Patriots will be giving him similar opportunities this year after this release.

Pierre played a big part in the Steelers’ secondary in 2021 and 2022, starting six games and logging an interception in each season. His role was extremely reduced last year with the arrivals of Joey Porter Jr.. and Patrick Peterson, but his experience could be crucial in a position room that only rosters five cornerbacks as Cameron Sutton remains on suspension.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/24

September 14th, 2024 at 8:06pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s minor transactions and gameday practice squad callups:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts after a Saints trade was discussed. The 30-year-old missed the 2022 and ’23 campaigns due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, quickly landing a practice squad deal with the Lions. He is now positioned make his season debut tomorrow as a complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack.

Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury and he was known to be facing a long-term absence. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise, but it ensures at least a four-week absence. The former All-Pro scored a punt return touchdown with Pittsburgh early last season and added another during his 10-game Giants stretch to close out the year. The team will need to rely on other options in the return game for the time being.

Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes Undergoes Thumb Surgery

September 13th, 2024 at 11:45am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Friday Forbes will not be placed on IR. As a result, he will be able to return to the field in relatively short order.

SEPTEMBER 12: Emmanuel Forbes is set to miss time early in his second NFL season. The Commanders corner will undergo thumb surgery tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Forbes sustained a torn UCL in Week 1, and instead of playing through the nagging ailment he will take the surgery route to address it. The 2023 first-rounder faced expectations for a notable step forward this season, so this news obviously represents a setback. No firm timeline is in place for his recovery, although ESPN’s John Keim notes injured reserve may not be needed in this case.

Placing Forbes on IR would guarantee at least a four-game absence, but taking a week-to-week approach could allow him to return to action quicker. How the operation plays out will of course be a determining factor in whether or not the Commanders will move Forbes to IR. Missing the 23-year-old for any period of time will leave Washington without a contributor in the secondary, though.

After a stellar college career in terms of ball production, Forbes entered the league with high expectations. The Mississippi State product only logged a 50% snap share as a rookie, however, and when on the field he struggled in coverage. Forbes allowed three touchdowns and a 103 passer rating as the nearest defender last year, albeit one during which the Commanders struggled across the board defensively to close out the campaign in particular. In Week 1, he gave up completions on all three of his targets.

Forbes did manage 11 pass deflections in 14 games as a rookie, flashing playmaking potential which could allow him to live up to his draft status over time. The 6-0, 180-pounder will still no doubt face questions about his size when back on the field, and his ability to develop will be a key storyline for the Commanders as they rebuild under head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters.

With Forbes sidelined, Washington will move forward with Benjamin St-Juste as a starter on the perimeter along with third-round second-round rookie Mike Sainristil in place as the top slot option. Veteran Michael Davis – who split first-team reps with Forbes during the spring – is a candidate to step into a defensive role. Davis played exclusively on special teams in his Commanders debut while Noah Igbinoghene handled rotational defensive duties. One of Davis or Igbinoghene should be in line for an increased workload while Forbes recovers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/24

September 10th, 2024 at 6:49pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: G Cade Mays
  • Released: T Marcellus Johnson

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Signed: T Anim Dankwah

NFC East Notes: Bland, Eagles, Giants

September 10th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys managed fine without DaRon Bland in Week 1, smothering Deshaun Watson‘s comeback effort. But the team has not gotten a chance to play Bland and Trevon Diggs together since September of last season. Bland’s IR-return designation leaves the 2023 All-Pro out of the picture until at least Week 5. While a late-August report suggested Bland could miss eight games due to the foot stress fracture he suffered, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Cowboys are optimistic Bland will be ready to return when first eligible.

This would be welcome news for a Cowboys team that has seen each of its preferred top three corners sustain a significant injury since 2022. Jourdan Lewis suffered a career-threatening Lisfranc injury that season, and Diggs tore an ACL in September. The latter issue moved Bland from the slot to the boundary, leading to his record-breaking five-pick-six performance last season. The Cowboys used fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson as their starter alongside Diggs in Cleveland.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • Devin White‘s role will be one to monitor when he debuts for the Eagles. The free agency addition missed Week 1, with Nakobe Dean starting alongside Zack Baun. Dean and Baun served as Vic Fangio‘s LB regulars in the Brazil game, and while White should still have a role upon debuting, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes Dean beat out the former Buccaneers top-five pick for a starting job. White was believed to be on track for a starting role before camp. The Eagles had planned for Dean to be their top linebacker last season, but two IR stints — because of a foot issue — changed that plan. Dean’s injury-plagued second season, after he backed up Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards as a rookie, led to the White and Baun signings. White is coming off a disappointing Bucs season, which ended with a reduced role. After previously aiming for a top-five ILB deal in 2023, White is on a one-year, $4MM contract.
  • The Eagles lost four front office execs to assistant GM roles in 2022, leading Howie Roseman to rebuild his power structure. This resulted in both Alec Halaby and Jon Ferrari being elevated to the assistant GM role that had previously stood vacant despite the front office talent Roseman had stockpiled. Halaby interviewed for the Commanders and Panthers’ GM jobs during this year’s cycle, meeting about the Carolina gig twice. Ferrari should be expected to be summoned for GM meetings soon as well, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe notes (subscription required). Ferrari has been with the Eagles since 2016. Prior to the AGM bump, he worked mainly in the team’s compliance department.
  • Both Nick McCloud and Gunner Olszewski are expected to miss time for the Giants. McCloud, who pushed for a starting cornerback spot in training camp, sustained a knee injury that could keep him out weeks, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano notes. Olszewski sustained a groin injury and will miss extensive time. Both players re-signed on one-year deals this offseason.
  • Staying with the Giants, the team used 2023 third-rounder Jalin Hyatt as its No. 4 wide receiver in Week 1. Hyatt played only 16 snaps against the Vikings, with Vacchiano indicating the Tennessee alum is “clearly behind” the Malik Nabers–Wan’Dale Robinson–Darius Slayton trio. This could certainly change if the Giants considered a Slayton trade — which they did not during the offseason — but the deep threat played at least 16 snaps in 15 of his 17 rookie-year games.
  • The Cowboys were among the teams to create cap space recently. They restructured Terence Steele‘s contract, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates. This update creates $4.5MM in cap space for the team, one that just agreed to the most lucrative deal in NFL history (Dak Prescott‘s four-year, $240MM extension).
  • Josh Harris will work with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown in running the search for the team’s next president, the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala tweets. The Commanders are searching for a successor to Jason Wright, who announced he will leave the post after the season.

Commanders Release K Cade York; Team Signs K Austin Seibert

September 9th, 2024 at 3:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cade York was acquired via trade by the Commanders in advance of Week 1 to serve as their kicker, but his audition in the nation’s capital has proved to be short-lived. The team announced on Monday he has been released. A replacement appears to be in place, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Washington plans to sign Austin Seibert.

York was drafted by the Browns in 2022, and he connected on 75% of his field goal attempts as a rookie. That year was followed by considerable struggles during the subsequent offseason, leading Cleveland to waive him and bring in Dustin Hopkins. The veteran had a strong debut Browns season last year, and he was rewarded with an extension in the offseason.

York spent time with the Titans and Giants in 2023, although he did not see any regular season action. The LSU product returned to Cleveland until he was traded to the Commanders in late August. That deal offered Washington yet another option in the kicking game after an offseason filled with changes at the position, and it included a conditional seventh-round pick heading the Browns’ way. Since York was let go after less than two weeks with Washington, though, that pick will not go to Cleveland, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes.

During Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, York made both of his extra point attempts but he went 0-for-2 on field goal kicks. That has led to the Commanders moving on in short order, and it will likely leave him on the open market for an extended period. Washington will attempt to move forward with Seibert, whom Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports has indeed been signed.

The 27-year-old also began his career with the Browns, and he has additionally spent time with the Lions and Jets. Seibert made one appearance for New York last year, and he remained with the team through the preseason. Considering the presence of Greg Zuerlein, however, Seibert was released during roster cuts. The Oklahoma product has connected on 80.4% of his field goal tries and 90.3% of his extra point attempts. A consistent showing in Washington will allow him to at least find a permanent gig for one year.

Commanders Place QB Marcus Mariota On IR

September 7th, 2024 at 5:18pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders will be starting rookie No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels at quarterback to open the season in Tampa Bay tomorrow. Behind Daniels, though, Washington had to make a couple of roster moves at quarterback. Prior to tomorrow’s game, the Commanders announced that they would place Marcus Mariota on injured reserve while signing practice squad passer Sam Hartman to the active roster.

Mariota was set to enter the season as the veteran backup option behind the team’s rookie starter. Today’s transaction, though, means that the former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 will be out for at least the next four games. With Mariota out, the new veteran backup with starting experience is Jeff Driskel.

A former sixth-round pick for the 49ers back in 2016, Driskel has never entered the season as a starter, but he has notched 12 starts in 24 game appearances over his eight years in the NFL coming off the bench. Over that time, Driskel has a record as a starter of 1-10, but he has shown some efficiency with a 16-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career.

Behind Driskel, the newly promoted Hartman will serve as the emergency QB3. A six-year college quarterback who transferred from Wake Forest to Notre Dame for his final year of collegiate ball, Hartman overcame a nagging injury history to become a successful starter for both the Demon Deacons and the Fighting Irish. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent and failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was signed to the practice squad shortly after being waived.

Joining Hartman off the practice squad, linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive tackle Sheldon Day will be promoted as standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow. Unlike Hartman, Bellore and Day will revert back to the practice squad after the team’s matchup with the Buccaneers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/24

September 6th, 2024 at 6:51pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor moves as we continue with Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Commanders

The Packers and Eagles both elect to utilize their two gameday practice squad elevations on the offensive side of the ball as they get their seasons started in São Paulo. With rookie third-round rusher MarShawn Lloyd out to start the season, Merriweather will add some depth at running back for Green Bay.

Philadelphia will use their callups to supplement an offensive line that has two players listed as out tonight and one on injured reserve. A normally deep tight ends group for the Birds sees Albert Okwuegbunam on IR, as well. Jenkins will back up Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.

Commanders Release WR Byron Pringle

September 6th, 2024 at 5:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Byron Pringle remained with the Commanders by taking a deal in July, but he is not in the fold for at least the time being. The veteran receiver was released on Friday, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Recapping Commanders’ Offseason]

Pringle spent the 2023 campaign in Washington under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after the pair worked together in Kansas City. The 30-year-old was available for the full season, but he only started one contest and logged an offensive snap share of just 17%. That was balanced out by a notable special teams workload.

Not long after training camp started, Pringle inked a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum to remain with the Commanders. He survived roster cuts, but vested veterans have their base salaries ($1.13MM in this case) become fully guaranteed just before Week 1. For that reason, teams sometime elect to briefly cut such players immediately before the start of the season. It will be interesting to see if Pringle – whose deal does not include any money in the form of a signing bonus – is brought back in short order.

Washington moved on from 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson by trading him to the Eagles. That move was one of many which saw players added before the current Josh Harris/Adam Peters/Dan Quinn regime took over find new teams this offseason, and it came after a reported clash with Bieniemy which took place last year. Dotson was set operate as a complementary receiving option in 2024, but his absence has created a vacancy for that role.

Martavis Bryant‘s comeback efforts produced a Commanders contract, but he was let go ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. With Pringle out of the picture (for now, at a minimum), Washington’s receiver room is led by returnees Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown and Jamison Crowder, free agent addition Olamide Zaccheaus, third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey and recent pickup Noah Brown. The Commanders will save $985K in cap space via the Pringle release.

Load More Posts