Commanders make 37 roster moves as Washington reaches 53-man limit
The Washington Commanders made their biggest round of roster moves of the summer Sunday, releasing 34 players and moving three others to injury lists as general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn reshaped the roster ahead of the 2026 regular season.
Washington released its moves just before Sunday’s 6 p.m. NFL deadline. Cornerback Trey Amos and running back Jeremy McNichols were placed on Reserve/Injured with designations to return, while defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list.
The transactions reduced Washington from its expanded preseason roster to the NFL’s 53-player limit, although this should not necessarily be viewed as the finished Week 1 roster.
In fact, the Commanders acknowledged Sunday evening that more movement could be coming. Washington currently has an unusually thin group of active cornerbacks, while injured players such as Laremy Tunsil and Jer’Zhan Newton could factor into subsequent transactions.
Sam Hartman among notable cuts
Quarterback Sam Hartman was one of the biggest names released.
Washington’s decision leaves Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as its three quarterbacks. Kaliakmanis surviving the cuts is particularly noteworthy because it means the former Rutgers quarterback effectively won Washington’s developmental quarterback job.
Hartman had spent the past two seasons developing in Washington’s system after initially joining the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
The decision gives Washington a clear quarterback hierarchy entering the season. Daniels remains the franchise quarterback, Mariota provides an experienced No. 2 and Kaliakmanis gives the organization a younger developmental option.
Veteran Van Jefferson released
Wide receiver Van Jefferson was another recognizable veteran who did not survive Sunday’s cuts.
Washington instead kept a deep receiver group built around Terry McLaurin and offseason addition Stefon Diggs. Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane and rookie Antonio Williams are also currently listed on the active roster.
Jaden Bradley, Jacoby Jones and Nick Nash joined Jefferson among the receivers released Sunday.
Keeping seven receivers gives offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury plenty of options around Daniels, particularly with Diggs adding another proven veteran weapon opposite McLaurin.
Washington moves on from several veterans
The Commanders did not limit Sunday’s cuts to younger players fighting for the bottom of the roster.
Veteran offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill was released, as were defensive tackles Maurice Hurst II and Shy Tuttle and veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau. Offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, guard Max Scharping and tackle Trent Scott were also let go.
Those moves illustrate how much competition Peters has created throughout Washington’s roster.
The offensive line remains an especially interesting situation because Tunsil has been dealing with an injury and Washington signed veteran tackle D.J. Humphries only days before the cutdown deadline. The current group includes Tunsil, Humphries, Josh Conerly Jr., Brandon Coleman, Sam Cosmi, Nick Allegretti, Chris Paul, Andrew Wylie, Tanoa Togiai and rookie center Matt Gulbin.
More changes remain possible.
Trey Amos headed to injured reserve
One of Washington’s most important moves involves Amos.
The second-year cornerback was placed on Reserve/Injured with a designation to return because of an ankle injury. That designation preserves Washington’s ability to get Amos back during the season rather than ending his year.
Amos will have to miss at least the first four games before becoming eligible to return.
That is a significant early-season loss for Washington’s secondary.
Amos had been listed as a starting cornerback on Washington’s depth chart, alongside a group that includes Mike Sainristil, Amik Robertson and Rasul Douglas.
His absence also helps explain why Washington’s roster might change quickly after cutdown day.
The Commanders’ own analysis Sunday noted that the team currently has only three cornerbacks on the active roster, a strong indication Peters could scour the waiver wire and free-agent market for secondary help.
McNichols can return
McNichols will also have an opportunity to return after being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.
The veteran running back has a quad injury and, like Amos, must miss at least four games.
Without McNichols, Washington currently has Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and rookie Kaytron Allen on the active roster.
That makes Allen’s survival particularly interesting.
The former Penn State running back gives Washington a young, physical option while McNichols recovers.
Wise starts season on PUP
Wise faces a similar early-season absence.
Washington placed the veteran defensive end on the Reserve/PUP list as he continues dealing with a quad injury. Wise must also miss at least the first four games.
Wise, who turns 32 this season, gives Washington another experienced defensive lineman when healthy.
The Commanders have significantly rebuilt their defensive front around Daron Payne. Their current active roster includes Payne, Tim Settle, Jer’Zhan Newton, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu and Ricky Barber, with edge players including Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson.
Washington will have to navigate the opening portion of the season without Wise.
Dorance Armstrong suspended
There is another important roster wrinkle.
Defensive end Dorance Armstrong is on the Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner list because of a one-game NFL suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. He will be eligible to return for Week 2.
That means Washington’s defensive roster could look substantially different after the first several weeks.
Armstrong can return after one game. Amos, McNichols and Wise could potentially return after four.
Complete list of Commanders cuts
Washington officially released the following 34 players Sunday:
- LB Krys Barnes
- OLB Boogie Basham
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- WR Jaden Bradley
- G/T Daniel Brunskill
- TE Lawrence Cager
- DT Byron Cowart
- CB Fred Davis II
- C/G Julian Good-Jones
- CB Antonio Hamilton Sr.
- QB Sam Hartman
- RB Robert Henry Jr.
- C Trey Hill
- DT Maurice Hurst II
- LB Curtis Jacobs
- WR Van Jefferson
- OLB D.J. Johnson
- S Quindell Johnson
- WR Jacoby Jones
- LB Ale Kaho
- S Qwuanrezz Knight Sr.
- DT Jeffrey M’Ba
- OLB T.J. Maguranyanga
- TE Tre’ McKitty
- TE Quentin Moore
- CB Fabian Moreau
- WR Nick Nash
- T Nicholas Petit-Frere
- RB Craig Reynolds
- CB Darius Rush
- G Max Scharping
- T Trent Scott
- DT Shy Tuttle
- CB Car’lin Vigers
Several young players win roster spots
Cutdown day is always viewed through the players who leave, but Sunday’s moves also revealed several players Washington clearly believes are worth developing.
Kaliakmanis making it as a third quarterback is one.
Allen making the running back room is another.
Rookie Antonio Williams remains among the wide receivers, while Matt Gulbin and Tanoa Togiai survived on the offensive line. Washington also has first-round rookie linebacker Sonny Styles on a defense that features Frankie Luvu and several offseason additions.
The current roster reflects Peters’ continued attempt to mix established veterans with younger players who can develop around Daniels.
The 53 probably is not finished
This is technically Washington’s 53-man roster, but fans should expect movement.
NFL cutdown day creates one of the biggest talent pools of the entire year. Hundreds of players were released around the league Sunday, giving Peters and Washington’s front office an opportunity to evaluate potential upgrades.
The Commanders’ situation at cornerback stands out immediately.
Washington’s own website noted after the cuts that having only three active cornerbacks is probably not how the organization intends to enter Week 1. Tunsil and Newton also had not been moved to injured reserve when Washington announced Sunday’s cuts.
That could mean some players celebrating roster spots Sunday ultimately find themselves involved in another transaction.
It is the reality of the NFL’s initial 53.
Commanders turn their attention toward Philadelphia
With the preseason and initial roster cuts finished, Washington can finally turn its full attention toward the regular season.
The Commanders open the 2026 campaign on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m.
Washington enters that game with a roster that looks considerably different from a year ago. Diggs gives Daniels another major receiving weapon. Styles adds youth and athleticism to the defense. Peters has continued reshaping both lines, and several younger players won legitimate roster battles this summer.
Sunday represented the biggest single roster overhaul before the season.
It probably will not be the last.
With Amos and McNichols headed to injured reserve, Wise beginning the year on PUP, Armstrong suspended for Week 1 and obvious depth questions remaining at several positions, expect Peters to remain aggressive over the next few days.
The Commanders reached 53 players Sunday.
Now comes the process of building the right 53 for Week 1.
