Commanders roster moves: Another high Ron Rivera draft pick released

Jonathan Allen is officially back. Another high draft pick is gone.

It’s Saturday, and the Washington Commanders have made a few roster moves.

First, they have activated Jonathan Allen from the injured reserve list. Allen partially tore a pectoral muscle back in a Week 6 contest against the Ravens and was expected to be out the remainder of the season.

Secondly, the Commanders have waived defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. Washington drafted Mathis in the 2022 NFL draft (No. 47 overall).

Thirdly, the Commanders have elevated two players, cornerback Kevon Seymour and wide receiver Brycen Tremayne, from their practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Seymour was a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills out of USC in 2016, appearing in 64 games, starting seven prior to being signed by Washington in September. However, the NFL recently suspended Seymour for six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Tremayne was undrafted out of Stanford and signed by Washington in 2023. He did not appear in a game in 2023 and was elevated once this season for the Browns game on October 6.

Allen is a welcome addition to the team, having been a defensive line anchor for eight seasons. Allen can now contribute to a team with a winning record for the first time in his career since joining Washington in the 2017 draft.

Sadly, Mathis is another reminder of how poorly former GM/HC Ron Rivera drafted. Mathis was immediately declared to be an example of Rivera again reaching in the draft because nearly all drafting services had Mathis to be drafted in rounds three or four.

Mathis had been a healthy scratch, made inactive in the last three games, while defensive tackle Carl Davis was elevated each game to play instead of Mathis.