Commanders quietly send roster hopeful packing to make room for Von Miller

The Washington Commanders caused a stir with the signing of future Pro Football Hall of Fame edge rusher Von Miller just a few days before training camp. That should help a problem position group despite his advancing years, but it meant someone had to become collateral damage.

Washington was at capacity on its 90-man roster. For Miller to take the field with his teammates for Wednesday's first practice, a sacrifice elsewhere had to be made. After some deliberation between those in power, it turned out to be running back Michael Wiley.

Wiley was a long shot to make the 53-man roster. The promising youngster spent last season primarily on the practice squad after emerging as a summer standout. The undrafted free agent out of Arizona never got a call-up to the squad, but he impressed enough for the Commanders to give him a reserve/futures contract once their phenomenal 2024 efforts concluded.

Commanders had no room for Michael Wiley after Von Miller signing

The Commanders have now cut the cord on Wiley to make room for Miller, who's expected to make an immediate impact on the rotation as Washington aims to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That might seem harsh, but it's the nature of the business. And general manager Adam Peters is running the football operation with a cutthroat mindset.

Miller's potential impact far outweighs anything Wiley could bring to the table. The Commanders also have a surplus of running backs with Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and the addition of seventh-round selection Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The second-year pro became the odd man out.

That made Wiley the sixth running back at best, so there shouldn't have been a great deal of surprise when he was chosen to be removed from the equation. Getting another chance to impress at training camp would have been nice, but it just wasn't to be.

What the future holds for Wiley is unclear. There's a chance the Commanders bring him back if an injury occurs at camp. There's a chance another team takes a flyer on his potential to give him a shot, but there's just no telling if (or when) that will arrive.

It's a waiting game for Wiley. As for the Commanders? They'll be hoping their decent financial outlay to bring Miller on board brings the anticipated rewards.

Whether that comes to fruition at 36 years old with a lot of tread on the tires is another matter.

More Commanders news and analysis