Commanders make bizarre move with promising rookie

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Commanders make bizarre move with promising rookie

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Oct 8, 2026 5:01 PM ET

A roster crunch has forced the Washington Commanders into a very strange move with a promising rookie.

The Commanders waived rookie running back Kaytron Allen on Thursday. The team hopes to bring Allen, a sixth-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, back to the team as a member of the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The goal/hope is that they can get Kaytron Allen back on the practice squad.
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 8, 2026

It is quite rare for a team to cut bait on a sixth-round pick six months after selecting him, especially when said player has seen the field and did nothing wrong to start the season. The 23-year-old has 12 carries for 41 yards on the season, with most of those carries coming in the first two games of the regular season.

Ultimately, the Commanders were forced into the move by a handful of other injury developments. Most notably, the team opened running back Jeremy McNichols’ practice window this week, so his return is imminent.

Allen is Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, having accumulated 4,180 yards during his college career.

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