Commanders reach injury settlement with TE Sammis Reyes

Sammis Reyes is now a free agent and free to sign with a new NFL team. The Washington Commanders released the tight end after reaching an injury settlement, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.

The Commanders placed Reyes on injured reserve last week with a hamstring injury. By rule, since he was placed on IR ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown, Reyes’ season was over with Washington without an injury settlement.

By reaching an injury settlement, Reyes is free to sign with a new team right away and play this season. However, he can still re-sign with the Commanders but first must miss three regular-season games, plus the number of games covered in the settlement.

Reyes played college basketball at Tulane before choosing a path toward being a professional football player. After entering the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, Reyes signed with the Commanders in April 2021.

Last season, he made the 53-man roster after his first training camp and preseason, making him the first Chilean-born player in NFL history.

Reyes appeared in 11 games in 2021, playing 145 snaps on special teams and 39 on offense. He didn’t record a catch.

This year he entered Commanders training camp buried on the depth chart behind Logan Thomas, John Bates, rookie Cole Turner, and undrafted rookies Armani Rogers and Curtis Hodges before being placed on IR.

At 26 years of age and 6-foot-5, Reyes may be an intriguing option for another team to sign or place on the practice squad to develop. The Commanders could also bring him back later this season if he is available.