Commanders Add Jaden Bradley and Byron Cowart to Initial Practice Squad

The Washington Commanders opened their practice-squad slate on Monday afternoon, naming an initial group that includes Jaden Bradley and Byron Cowart. The move gives both players a chance to continue their development within the organization while also supporting game-day preparation as the club moves from training-camp and preseason work into the regular-season routine.

In the Commanders’ announcement, Bradley and Cowart were listed among the additions to the practice squad. The release framed the group as a collection of standout performers from earlier phases of camp, positioning the unit as an internal resource for coaching, scout-team work, and depth behind the active roster.

Practice squads matter for teams like Washington because they serve as the closest bridge between preseason looks and regular-season reliability. Players can adjust to the speed and detail of weekly preparations, learn roles specific to opponents, and stay ready for elevation if injuries or performance needs arise during the season.

For Bradley and Cowart, being named to the initial practice squad represents a concrete step after the evaluation periods that typically determine who earns a roster spot, a practice-squad role, or a return later in the cycle. Even without an active-roster designation, these signings can become pivotal, because successful practice-squad stints often lead to increased responsibility and more meaningful opportunities.

The Commanders’ decision also reflects how teams manage roster building across the NFL offseason. By identifying players from training camp and the preseason for the practice squad, Washington is indicating it intends to keep football continuity, maintain familiarity with the coaching staff’s systems, and retain prospects who have already spent time learning the team’s day-to-day expectations.

What to watch next is how the Commanders use the practice squad throughout the early weeks: whether Bradley and Cowart are active in scout-team preparation, and whether the team’s internal depth needs trigger any elevations from the practice squad to the active roster.