There weren’t any shockers when the Washington Commanders announced their initial 53-man roster Tuesday. Some were surprised the Commanders kept 11 defensive linemen and seven wide receivers. But it was an intelligent decision, considering Washington’s deep and talented defensive line.
As for the wide receiver position, Washington wasn’t about to let a promising rookie like Mitchell Tinsley end up on another NFL team’s roster.
If there was one surprise, at least a mild surprise, it was the inclusion of tight end Curtis Hodges. Hodges, a 6-foot-8, 257-pound tight end who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds at the 2022 NFL combine, signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent last offseason.
However, an injury kept Hodges on the sideline for his rookie season. This preseason, with the Commanders needing depth at tight end, Hodges didn’t exactly take advantage of his opportunities, dropping two catchable balls in the second preseason win over the Ravens.
For head coach Ron Rivera, he’s considering everything as it pertains to Hodges. One, he missed his rookie season and is still relatively new to the position, having begun his college career as a wide receiver.
“Well, he really didn’t practice last year,” Rivera said when asked about keeping Hodges on the initial 53-man roster. “That’s part of the problem. And so when you look at it, for us, that’s a rookie right there.”
There’s certainly a lot to like about Hodges, particularly if you’re a team with depth concerns at tight end.
Did the Commanders keep Hodges because they are more concerned about starter Logan Thomas and his calf injury than they are letting on? Or is Washington just that high on his potential?
“This is a young man that’s got a tremendous skill set,” Rivera said. “His physical traits are very difficult to find, and just getting an opportunity to practice this year completely was a good thing for him. And so, again, we feel that this is a young man that has an ability, and we’ll see how it grows and develops. But players like that are very difficult to find.”
That’s some high praise from the head coach.
As of now, Hodges would be Washington’s fourth tight end. They could bring Alex Armah back as a fullback/tight end. If that happens, what would it mean for Hodges?
For Hodges to reach his potential, he first needs to stay healthy.