Commanders depth chart: projecting the 53-man roster
Washington's commanders depth chart locks in by 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 30, when the franchise must cut from 91 players to 53 after a listless 41-3 preseason finale loss to Baltimore. Starters rested while backup centers competed, leaving interior-line questions as GM Adam Peters eyes waiver upgrades before Philadelphia. The deadline caps months of camp competition—and early cuts already signal where the roster is heading.
Key Takeaways
- The Commanders lost 41-3 to the Ravens in Friday's preseason finale but rested 41 players, including all starters and many key backups.
- Washington began trimming with releases at offensive line, receiver, running back, linebacker, and defensive back; Laremy Tunsil and Jer'Zhan Newton remain on injured reserve.
- Center remains the clearest roster hole, with Nick Allegretti sidelined and Julian Good-Jones cut after an extended audition.
- The Commanders hold the No. 7 waiver priority spot and are expected to make additional moves once league-wide cuts settle.
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt's improved pass blocking and several special-teams standouts could still influence final depth-chart slots.
What happened in the Commanders' preseason finale?
In their preseason finale, the Washington Commanders fell 41-3 to the Baltimore Ravens on Friday. The listless showing did not significantly alter evaluation plans because Washington rested 41 players, including all starters and many key backups.
The most important players who suited up were centers Matt Gulbin and Julian Good-Jones, who were competing for the backup job behind Nick Allegretti. That matchup underscored how roster decisions at the interior offensive line—not Friday's scoreboard—dominated the closing evaluation window.
Who got cut as Washington trimmed toward 53?
NFL teams were required to cut rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Aug. 30, removing 38 players through releases, trades, or injured lists. Washington's early moves included several offense and defense cuts tracked by Hogs Haven.
Offensive cuts included tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, receiver Nick Nash, running back Craig Reynolds, center Trey Hill, and linemen Daniel Brunskill and Julian Good-Jones. Defensive departures included safeties Qwuantrezz Knight and Joshuah Bledsoe, outside linebackers D.J. Johnson and Boogie Basham, defensive tackles Jeffrey M'ba and Byron Cowart, linebacker Krys Barnes, and cornerbacks Car'lin Vigers and Fred Davis II.
Laremy Tunsil and Jer'Zhan Newton remain on injured reserve. Teams can form 16-player practice squads after 12 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, with Washington eligible for a 17th member by signing international pathway player DE T.J. Maguranyanga.
Where does the commanders depth chart still need work?
Head coach Dan Quinn has said the Commanders need to figure out the center position, and team writers echo that concern. Nick Allegretti brings physicality and intelligence the staff values, but he has barely been on the field during training camp, forcing auditions from Good-Jones and sixth-round pick Gulbin.
Senior writer Zach Selby, answering fan questions on Commanders.com, noted Good-Jones was not in the team's plans as a starting center. Selby expects Washington to survey roughly 32 centers on the market once roster cuts occur league-wide.
Elsewhere on the depth chart, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has improved his pass blocking enough to earn more third-down snaps. Long-shot roster candidates include cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. for special teams, linebacker Ale Kaho, and defensive linemen Ricky Barber and Shy Tuttle. Running backs Craig Reynolds and Jeremy McNichols filled overlapping roles, with McNichols the more impactful option when healthy.
Will the Commanders use the waiver wire?
Washington holds the No. 7 spot on the waiver priority list and is expected to make moves over the next few days. Vested veterans released now can sign with any team immediately and do not pass through waivers.
With Week 1 in Philadelphia two weeks away—Washington opened as a +5.5 underdog—the initial 53-man roster is unlikely to be final. For broader roster and league trend coverage, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub. The Commanders' first cutdown answers who survived camp; waiver activity will shape who actually plays in September.