Commanders Make Several Moves After Finalizing Roster
In the days following the final roster cutdown to 53 on Tuesday, several franchises around the league made moves as teams release players that can be used elsewhere.
The team originally turned in their 53-man roster to the league Tuesday with four cornerbacks, five tight ends, and a player who was shot twice this past weekend in DC still listed. Needless to say, the Commanders roster is currently a work in progress.
Let’s take a look at some of the moves Washington has made since turning in their initial roster.
Commanders Make Several Moves
On the heels of turning in the final roster, Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera told reporters the roster “was a work in progress,” and he kept to his word. Wednesday the team announced several moves, first claiming cornerbacks Tariq Castro-Fields and Rachad Wildgoose off the waiver wire.
We've made the following roster moves: – Signed LBs David Mayo and Jon Bostic – Placed RB Brian Robinson Jr. on the the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List – Placed TE Curtis Hodges on the Reserve/Injured List — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 1, 2022
Castro-Fields was drafted in the sixth round by the 49ers out of Penn State this year, while Rachad Wildgoose was also selected in the sixth round, but in 2021 by the Buffalo Bills. Wildgoose spent some time with the New York Jets as well.
To keep the team under the 53 maximum, Washington then released backup linebackers David Mayo and De’Jon Harris. They also placed rookie tight end, Curtis Hodges, on the injured reserve, and re-signed veteran linebacker Jon Bostic, who had been cut earlier this week by the Saints.
Placing Hodges on the IR explains why they initially decided to keep five on the roster. If they would have placed Hodges on IR before 4:00 pm Tuesday, he would not have been eligible to return this season.
For Bostic, this will be his second stint in Washington having played several seasons in the burgundy and gold (three to be exact) for two different coaching staffs. A pectoral injury ended his 2021 campaign.
Brian Robinson To NFI List
The team also placed rookie runningback Brian Robinson Jr on the Non-Football Injury list (NFI) Thursday and then re-signed linebacker Davis Mayo.
The Commanders will be without star end Chase Young and RB Brian Robinson for at least four games. And Kam Curl, one of their top DBs – his status is unclear, but he was wearing an arm sling while watching practice yesterday. — Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 1, 2022
With moving Robinson to the NFI the team acknowledges he’ll miss at least the first four weeks of the season per league rules. It’s an unbelievable story, as it turns out, the bullet that passed through Robinson’s knee this past weekend didn’t hit any bones or ligaments, meaning a speedy recovery is already in the works.
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The Commanders will use a running back by committee approach while Robinson works his way back. With guys like J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson in the same room, they should still expect above-average production from the position in 2022.