Commanders make roster cuts, trimming to 53 players ahead of regular-season roster limit

The Washington Commanders announced a set of roster moves Tuesday night to get down to the NFL’s 53-player regular-season limit. The cut-down period is where teams separate early training-camp plans from the rotation they want entering the first full week of the regular season, and Washington used the process to clear roster spots across multiple position groups.

According to the club’s announcement reported by Yahoo Sports, Washington waived or released a long list of players as it reached the 53-man number. Among the names included were linebacker Krys Barnes, outside linebacker Boogie Basham, safety Joshuah Bledsoe, receiver Jaden Bradley, and offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill. The moves also reached the defensive front, with defensive tackle Byron Cowart and defensive tackle Jeffrey M'Ba among those listed.

The Commanders’ transaction list extended into the secondary and skill positions as well. Cornerback Fred Davis II, cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., and cornerback Car’lin Vigers were included, as were safety Quindell Johnson and safety Qwuanrezz Knight Sr. On the receiving side, the team also included receiver Van Jefferson, receiver Jacoby Jones, and receiver Nick Nash in the group of players being waived or released.

Washington’s cuts were not confined to defense and wide receiver roles. The reported list included offensive line players Julian Good-Jones and Max Scharping, as well as offensive tackle Trent Scott and offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere. Tight end Lawrence Cager, tight end Tre’ McKitty, and tight end Quentin Moore were also among the players identified in the roster reduction announcement.

The Commanders also trimmed the linebacker and quarterback depth chart as part of the 53-man sorting process. Linebacker Curtis Jacobs and linebacker Ale Kaho were included, as was quarterback Sam Hartman. The team additionally made cuts that touched running back depth, with running back Robert Henry Jr. and running back Craig Reynolds listed.

Along with the players named in the reported announcement, Washington’s move underscores how quickly training-camp opportunities narrow once teams lock into their core group. Even when the preseason roster contains many viable candidates, the 53-man limit forces choices on who offers the best mix of role fit, special-teams value, and depth to carry through the early season.

What to watch next is how Washington populates the remaining depth chart after these moves, particularly in positions where the team listed multiple departures. The 53-man roster defines the weekly game-day pool, but it also shapes practice-squad options and the ways teams respond to injuries and matchups as the season progresses.