The only genuine surprising player removal by the Washington Commanders during final cuts was the release of second-year edge rusher K.J. Henry. At a position of need, the former fifth-round selection appeared to have the athleticism to develop into a quality pass rusher. If he does so now, it will likely be for another team.
Henry’s release was part of the final commentary on Ron Rivera’s last draft class in Washington. Adam Peters released every pick made in 2023 between the third and seventh rounds - five players in all. He also waived Cole Turner, a fifth-rounder from 2022.
Only six players remain from the 15 chosen in the last two drafts. That is a devastating repudiation of how the previous regime went about roster-building.
However, within the cuts came some surprise success stories. Each year, some players survive cutdown day when few gave them a chance before offseason workouts began. That's a testament to their hard work and ability to produce the goods under pressure.
Their positions are not exactly secure yet, as Peters will continue tinkering with the roster as he evaluates cuts made by other teams. But for now at least, here are five surprising Commanders who made it through to see another day with the club.
Surprise inclusions on the Commanders initial 53-man roster
Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
We had been hearing good things about Colson Yankoff through training camp. However, he wasn’t getting much run in preseason games.
Yankoff is a versatile tight end. He can line up in the backfield. He can split outside. Or he can play the traditional in-line role. He has good size and good athleticism. This didn't go unnoticed by the coaching staff en route to a spot on the initial 53-man squad.
A lot of analysts pegged second-round draft pick Ben Sinnott as a poor man’s George Kittle. Of course, Peters is a big fan having been around the player during his time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Yankoff could be a poor man’s Sinnott. Or perhaps a slightly wealthier man’s Kyle Juszczyk. His unlikely journey gives a pretty clear indication of the type of versatile tight ends the new regime will lean on.
Byron Pringle - Commanders WR
It seemed to make some sense last season when Byron Pringle rejoined his former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on the Washington Commanders. He didn’t stand out, but that could have been largely due to the misfiring offense that plagued the club all year.
Pringle is a quality veteran wide receiver who has shown the ability to make big plays when needed throughout his career. He can return kicks and in terms of profile, can take over Terry McLaurin’s spot at the X in the event of emergency.
When the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Dan Quinn expressed confidence in his remaining wide receivers. But the prospect of another arrival cannot be ruled out once Adam Peters begins to examine the players available after final cuts.
Most of the press focused on Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus, both of whom are likely slotted ahead of Pringle. But veterans like the Kansas State product and Jamison Crowder may have made Washington's decision to move on from Dotson a little easier.
John Ridgeway III - Commanders DT
There were reports throughout the day that the Commanders were trying to trade third-year defensive tackle John Ridgeway III. Sometimes, those reports amount to little more than smoke and mirrors, so we may never be sure what the plan was. But as of now, he is still holding onto one of the backup defensive tackle spots he's had since Washington signed him off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad in 2022.
Ridgeway has had an up-and-down career thus far. When the Commanders selected Johnny Newton early in this year’s draft, it led to speculation that his days in D.C. might be coming to an end.
Newton’s injury may have helped Ridgeway keep his job, but Adam Peters and company likely see some potential in the interior force. He has made some good plays for Washington. He just hasn't been especially consistent and has committed the occasional bad penalty.
As recently as last week, it seemed that Ridgeway was in a battle with Phidarian Mathis for the final defensive tackle spot. The Commanders decided to keep both players, loading up on interior defenders, perhaps at the expense of an edge rusher like K.J. Henry.
Mykal Walker - Commanders LB
Mykal Walker might be another veteran who benefitted from a nagging injury suffered by a 2024 draft pick. In this case, it is Jordan Magee who is ailing.
The fact that he will not be available for at least a few weeks at the beginning of the season opened up a linebacking spot behind Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, and the linebacker/edge hybrid players Dante Fowler Jr. and Jamin Davis. Magee showed promise over the offseason, so he should feature prominently when he gets the all-clear.
Another veteran free-agent linebacker, Anthony Pittman, seemed to be getting more plays in the preseason, but he has mostly been a special teamer throughout his career. Walker has been a serviceable linebacker and got the nod.
Two years ago, he recorded more than 100 tackles, along with several interceptions and pass break-ups while getting good playing time with the Atlanta Falcons. Once Magee went down, Walker was the best-suited remaining linebacker to step into Wagner and Luvu’s role in the event of injury.
Dominique Hampton - Commanders S/LB
It isn’t a shock that Dominique Hampton made the roster. All of the Washington Commanders' 2024 draft picks did. Teams think highly of their selections, and cutting one so early is an admission of failure.
The real surprise is that the Commanders kept seven safeties. I don’t think Jeremy Chinn, Quan Martin, and Darrick Forrest were ever in danger of being cut, but I thought only two or three players from the next group - Tyler Owens, Jeremy Reaves, Percy Butler, and Hampton - would stick.
I suppose you could sub in Reaves or Butler in this spot, but we had seen very little from Hampton this preseason. He's listed as a linebacker on the team's official release, so we'll have to wait and see how things shake out.
The Commanders took through just five cornerbacks, which means they are not done recruiting. One of those fringe safeties could eventually find his way to the practice squad. Quan Martin can play cornerback if necessary, complicating the mathematics.
The secondary is still very much a work in progress. But for now, Hampton is a part of it.
