Tag: Benning Potoa’e

Commanders elevate 2 from practice squad, Jonathan Allen now questionable for Week 2

Jonathan Allen is now questionable for Week 2 vs. Lions.

The Washington Commanders made a pair of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s Week 2 game against the Detroit Lions.

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who injured his groin in last week’s win vs. Jacksonville, was off Friday’s final injury report, indicating he would play. However, on Saturday, the Commanders added Allen to the injury report, making him questionable for the Week 2 game.

To guard against Allen missing the game, Washington promoted defensive tackle Benning Potoa’e from the practice squad. Potoa’e signed with Washington’s practice squad last week. He spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him during final cuts.

The Commanders also activated guard Wes Martin from the practice squad. The former fourth-round pick was re-signed late this summer after he was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington lost its top reserve defensive tackle last week when rookie Phidarian Mathis was lost for the season with a knee injury. Allen appears to be a game-time decision.

Commanders make a pair of roster moves Tuesday

The Commanders added another defensive tackle Tuesday, this time to the practice squad.

Losing defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis Sunday has resulted in two more transactions Tuesday by the Washington Commanders.

Washington signed DT Benning Potoa’e to the practice squad. To make room for Potoa’e, Washington released S Ferrod Gardner from the practice squad.

Mathis was the Commanders’ second-round draft choice in April’s draft. A former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Mathis was excited to be drafted by Washington and to learn from Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

Mathis went down Sunday on the first play of Jacksonville’s second possession, having torn his meniscus and, after an MRI Monday, was ruled out for the remainder of the 2022 season.

Losing Mathis so early in the contest, inside tackles Payne and Allen were in on 55 and 54 defensive snaps respectively. Daniel Wise (6-3,279) played on 30 defensive snaps inside, and the Commanders were forced to use Efe Obada (6-6, 265) inside as well.

The Commanders brass fully aware they need more size have now obtained Potoa’e (6-3, 290) Tuesday and Donovan Jeter (6-3, 325) Monday. Potoa’e played his college ball at the University of Washington. He appeared in one game for Tampa Bay in 2020 and then again in 2021. Jeter went undrafted out of Michigan, was signed by the Steelers, and played in all three preseason games before being cut.

Gardner (age 25) at 6’1”, 215 pounds, played linebacker at Louisiana. The Commanders were hoping to develop him as a strong safety. Perhaps with the size, they were hoping to see if he could develop into a Buffalo nickel role such as Landon Collins did in 2021.