When you’re having a good season, others notice. That’s the case for the 3-1 Washington Commanders, who sit alone in first place in the NFC East.
Other teams don’t often sign players away from Washington’s practice squad, but that’s what happened this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed guard Max Scharping to their roster from the Commanders’ practice squad. Scharping initially signed with Washington on Aug. 28.
That wasn’t the only player leaving the Commanders’ practice squad. Linebacker Jalen Graham, also signed in August, was signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ 53-man roster. The 49ers released Graham during their final roster cuts, and Washington GM Adam Peters, who was in San Francisco when the 49ers drafted Graham in 2023, quickly added him to the practice squad.
The Commanders announced two new practice squad signings to replace Scharping and Graham: Offensive lineman Marquis Hayes and safety Sheldrick Redwine.
Hayes, 25, played collegiately at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 when Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was the head coach.
Redwine has ties to Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and spent time this summer with Washington before he was released during final cuts.