7 Commanders who won’t play another snap in Washington after final cuts

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is currently preparing his players for some stern upcoming challenges during the 2025 season. But many of the current personnel won't be around when Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives.

Adam Peters is already making changes. These will ramp up in the coming days with final cuts on the imme diate horizon. And with one preseason game left versus the Baltimore Ravens, there isn't much time remaining to alter perceptions.

The Commanders have no room for passengers this season. They've gone from a surprise package to a leading Super Bowl challenger quicker than expected. That raises the stakes considerably, especially considering Peters pushed his chips into the middle with a win-now approach throughout his second recruitment period.

Most decisions have already been made. Peters will know where his roster is right now and what more is needed to give their playoff push another shot in the arm. Some are easier to figure out than others. But for many, this weekend's warmup encounter is the end of the roa d.

With this in mind, here are seven Commanders players who probably won't play another snap in Washington after final cuts.

Commanders players who won’t play another snap in Washington after final cuts

Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB

Let's get the most obvious one out of the way. And the Washington Commanders could remove running back Brian Robinson Jr. from the equation in some capacity long before cut-down day.

It looked for a long time as if Robinson would lead the backfield once again in 2025. His physical running style complements what pass-catching specialist Austin Ekeler brings to the table. Unfortunately for the former third-round pick out of Alabama, his fate shifted quickly.

Rumors of a departure surfaced first. Then, another report confirmed that the Commanders were shopping Robinson on the trade market. This was swiftly followed by the player being excused from Washington's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals and practice.

Head coach Dan Quinn revealed that he hopes to have more information on Robinson's status sooner rather than later. Peters is working to find a willing trade suitor. The compensation won't be much, but it'll be better than nothing. If not, then the Commanders will likely release him, eating $3.4 million in dead cap money along the way.

The Commanders are confident that young players like Chris Rodriguez Jr. and seventh-round rookie Jac ory Croskey-Merritt can step up. They have Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols as the experienced duo. Robinson is no longer part of the team's long-term strategy.

Chris Moore - Commanders WR

There are still a few intriguing position battles remaining heading into the Washington Commanders' final preseason game versus the Baltimore Ravens. One of those is lower down the wide receiver depth chart.

Terry McLaurin (contract pending), Deebo Samuel Sr., Jaylin Lane, and Noah Brown are locks. Luke McCaffrey might be too, but he's shown almost nothing once again during the preseason. It gets a little murky after that, with one or two spots for the rest.

Several will fancy their chances. Michael Gallup, K.J. Osborn, and Tay Martin are veteran possibilities. Undrafted free agent Ja'Corey Brooks has caught the eye over the offseason. All are ahead of Chris Moore, at least from the outside looking in.

Moore looked like a dark-horse contender to make the 53-man roster earlier this offseason. He's tailed off since, and the pass-catcher wasn't targeted in Washington's second preseason game after dropping two balls against the New England Patriots.

That's not the greatest sign, to put it mildly.

Ben Nikkel - Commanders S

The Commanders have some decent options in the safety room, all of whom have flashed immense promise during preparations for the new campaign. That's an undoubted positive, but it's not going to be good news for everybody.

Qua n Martin and free-agent signing Will Harris will lead the charge as Washington's starting tandem. Jeremy Reaves propelled himself into the No. 3 role and is going to feature on the defensive rotation more. Percy Butler and Tyler Owens have special-teams credentials, which makes it difficult for anyone else to stake a claim.

With undrafted free agent Robert McDaniel emerging as a strong candidate for the practice squad, things are looking bleak for Ben Nikkel. After spending last season on the practice squad and getting a reserve/futures contract this offseason, not enough progress has been made to warra nt an extended stay.

The numbers game is working against Nikkel. It would be surprising if he were part of the setup in 2025.

Bobby Price - Commanders CB

Washington's cornerback unit could become an area of strength in 2025. Most spots have been filled, with one position open for anyone who seizes the initiative in the coming days.

Marshon Lattimore and second-round rookie Trey Amos are firmly entrenched as the team's starting partnership on the boundary. Mike Sainristil is moving back to his preferred position in the slot. This is where his exceptional skills are best suited, despite making a smooth transition to the outside as a rookie.

Either way, it's not looking good for Bobby Price. The veteran's been beaten almost constantly over Washington's preseason slate. His performance against the Bengals should seal his fate.

Essang Bassey - Commanders CB

As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders have some outstanding cornerbacks heading into the 2025 season. If all of them meet or perhaps exceed expectations, this group has the potential to be among the league's best when it's all said and done.

It' s hard for anyone to impress once decisions become clearer. This bears more significance for those who arrive relatively late in the process, which brings Essang Bassey's future firmly under the microscope.

Bassey joined the Commanders recently, so time was already of the essence. The defensive back has logged reps throughout his five-year career to date, but he didn't play a competitive snap in 2024. His arrival brought slight intrigue, but this came screeching to an abrupt halt almost immediately.

The former Wake Forest standout had to make a big splash when opportunities came his way versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Bassey failed to accomplish this feat, which should be enough for the Commanders to go in a different direction.

Tyre Phillips - Commanders OT

The Commanders made a telling statement by signing veteran offensive tackle George Fant after a successful workout with the organization. That should help solidify depth, but it doesn't bode well for the hopes of others in their quest to make the roster.

Fant is dependable with the size and length to provide assurance if needed. This late signing also hints that those in power are not entirely satisfied with the performance levels of others.

Washington released Julian Good-Jones in the immediate aftermath of Fant's arrival. More cuts are coming, and Tyre Phillips faces a nervous wait in the coming days before his status is confirmed one way or another.

Phillips linked back up with offensive line coach Bobby Johnson this offseason. His brief involvement on the New York Giants' protection last season didn't inspire confidence. The same trend has disappointingly continued over Washington's opening two preseason contests.

Johnson could vouch for Phillips, but it might fall on deaf ears when push comes to shove.

Lawrence Cager - Commanders TE

The Commanders' tight end group is dominated by two players. Pro Bowler Zach Ertz once again leads the way, and he's shown no signs of slowing down at training camp. John Bates is among the league's best blocking options at the position — something he put on full display early in Washington's contest against the Bengals.

There remains confidence in Ben Sinnott. Much like wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, he's also been virtually anonymous aside from some blocking flashes in the preseason. However, there isn't much danger of him being cast aside so early in his development.

Much will depend on how many tight ends the Commanders take through. Colson Yankoff is the favorite to be the No. 4 option. Although a place on the practice squad cannot be completely dismissed, Lawrence Cager's lack of consistency makes keeping him around difficult to justify.

Cager started his NFL journey as a wide receiver before converting to tight end. He's got the size and athleticism to be more impactful, but the Commanders don't have time to wait around.

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