Former Commanders experiment may not make it out of another training camp

Many of the relics from back before the Washington Commanders had established themselves as one of the best teams in the league are trying to bounce between various teams in the hopes of latching on to the back end of the roster. One such player is former Commanders running back Jaret Patterson.

Patterson has spent the last few years ping-ponging between the Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers, with whom he currently resides. However, it appears as though the current state of Los Angeles' backfield might make it tough for Patterson to even have a shot at making the 53-man roster.

Patterson will be fighting with UDFA running back Raheim Sanders for the RB5 role. First-round pick Omarion Hampton and free agent signing Najee Harris are the top two dogs, while backup short-yardage back Hassan Haskins and 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal are both ahead of him on the depth chart.

With the smaller Patterson having amassed just a handful of carries in regular season games over the last few years, there's a very good chance that he will find NFL roles hard to come by if he doesn't set the world on fire with a very strong preseason.

Former Commanders RB Jaret Patterson might not make Chargers roster

Patterson overcame his size issues (recorded at 5-6 at the NFL Combine, listed generously at 5-8) to make Washington's roster after a strong college career at Buffalo. Patterson was the Bulls' leading running back for three seasons, running for at least 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in each of his three seasons as a starter.

Patterson signed with Washington, both his hometown team and where high school teammate Chase Young was plying his trade, as an undrafted free agent. Patterson managed to get a very brief run as a change-of-pace back in the Antonio Gibson-led backfield of the 2021 season.

Without great speed (4.59 40-yard dash) to go along with his size, teams might not be interested in taking him in at this stage of his career. Patterson doesn't have amazing special teams value, which could further limit the market for his services in the NFL.

Patterson has already overcome the odds by making it to the NFL and having a very brief glimpse of success at this level, but unless one of Haskins or Vidal spits the bit in front of him during the preseason, he could be running out of road at this level.