The Washington Commanders placed rookie offensive tackle Braeden Daniels on the reserve/injured list Monday, one day ahead of the NFL deadline for teams to trim rosters from 90 to 53 players.
The move means that’s one less cut the Commanders will need to make on Tuesday. In addition to moving Daniels to the injured list, Washington also cut 12 players. As of Monday evening, the Commanders’ roster sits at 77 players, meaning they must cut 24 players ahead of Tuesday’s 4:00 p.m. ET deadline.
A fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Daniels struggled this summer. An All-Pac-12 selection during his time at Utah, many believed the 6-foot-4, 294-pound Daniels would be better at guard in the NFL. However, the Commanders said he would begin his career at offensive tackle.
We have made multiple roster moves:
— Released 12 players
— Placed T Braeden Daniels on the Reserve/Injured List— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 28, 2023
While some initially felt Daniels being moved to the reserve/injured list was curious, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reported that he had suffered a torn rotator cuff. If that is indeed the injury, that would sideline for his entire rookie season.
Braeden Daniels suffered a rotator cuff injury, sources say. That’s why he was placed on injured reserve.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) August 28, 2023
The move allows the Commanders to add a veteran offensive tackle, either via another team’s cuts or someone already on the roster, such as Trent Scott. Charles Leno Jr., Andrew Wylie and Cornelius Lucas are roster locks for the Commanders.