Tag: Darrick Forrest

Commanders DC insists he’s not down on safety Darrick Forrest

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. says he is a fan of Darrick Forrest.

When the Washington Commanders hired Dan Quinn as head coach and Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator, everyone wondered which returning players would best fit their defensive scheme.

The most obvious players were defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. However, other players, such as defensive back Quan Martin and safety Darrick Forrest, stood out, too.

A fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Forrest was injured for part of his rookie season before returning to make an impact on special teams.  In 2022, Forrest had a terrific training camp and won one of the starting safety positions. He proceeded to play in all 17 games in 2022, making 88 tackles and tying for the team lead with four interceptions.

Forrest was always around the ball. His play style was physical and resembled what Whitt had said he was looking for in his introductory press conference.

However, Forrest missed some time in training camp and appeared to fall down the depth chart. There was some chatter about him not even making the 53-man roster. Forrest did make the roster, but he hasn’t been active yet this season.

With Forrest a healthy scratch again last week, reporters asked Whitt about Forrest on Thursday. 

“Forrest has done everything that we’ve asked him to do,” Whitt said. “He missed some time early and, I’m not down on him I’m actually really high on Forrest. He’s somebody that when we can get more safety packages….first off, we have to get up and then get them on the field. But he’s done everything, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great human being, and now we just gotta find a way to get him on the field in certain spaces.”

Forrest has proven he can deliver on defense and special teams. However, his health has been an issue. If Washington’s defensive struggles continue, it will be interesting to see if the Commanders activate Forrest on gameday in the coming weeks.

Who are the Inactives for the Commanders vs the Bengals?

Each NFL team must list seven players inactive, allowing only 46 to be active during regular season games.

NFL teams rosters are 53 men; however, only 46 are active each game.

Here are the inactives for tonight’s Week 3 contest between the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals.

COMMANDERS

  • CB Emmanuel Forbes
  • QB Sam Hartman
  • S Darrick Forrest
  • TE Colson Yankoff
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • G Chris Paul
  • DE Clelin Ferrell

Dan Quinn mentioned Saturday that Emmanuel Forbes, recovering from thumb surgery, might return for Week 4.

Sam Hartman, barring injury, will most likely be inactive for all 17 games this season.

Darrick Forrest has yet to play in 2024, being inactive in all three games.

This is the first game Colson Yankoff is being listed as inactive.

This is the third consecutive game Hampton is an inactive player.

Chris Paul has been inactive for all three games in 2024.

This is the first game Clelin Ferrell is inactive (knee injury).

BENGALS

  • WR Trenton Irwin
  • G Jaxson Kirkland
  • TE Tanner McLachlan
  • TE Tanner Hudson
  • DT Sheldon Rankins
  • DT B.J. Hill

Which players could the Commanders trade?

What other players could the Commanders trade?

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has proven he’s not afraid to make a deal. His first trade in March was trading 2023 starting quarterback Sam Howell to Seattle for draft picks. In the 2024 NFL draft, Peters traded back in the second round, adding another second-round pick.

Last week, Peters struck again. First, he traded a conditional draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for kicker Cade York. York shined in his debut for Washington, making both field goals and PATs in the final preseason game. However, Peters made headlines later last Thursday by sending 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson within the division to the Philadelphia Eagles.

There were already questions about which receiver would step up opposite Terry McLaurin, and those questions remain. Help could be on the way, though. The Commanders are No. 2 in the waiver priority order due to their poor record last season. That means only the Carolina Panthers are ahead of them if talented players at positions of need hit the waiver wire.

While Peters will likely be active on the waiver wire, don’t be surprised if he doesn’t make more trades. According to Ben Standig of The Athletic, the Commanders let other teams know about their surplus at specific positions, and this was before the Dotson trade.

That begs the question: Which other players could the Commanders trade on cutdown day (Tuesday) or later in the week?

We look at four players Washington could move.

DT John Ridgeway

Ridgeway is a third-year defensive tackle drafted by head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas. When the Cowboys waived him two years ago, they hoped to sneak him onto the practice squad, but Washington wisely claimed him. Ridgeway has provided good depth for the Commanders and had a strong preseason. Washington isn’t trading Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, or rookie Johnny Newton, meaning Ridgeway could be an attractive option for other teams. He has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and it’s cheap.

DT Phidarian Mathis

See above. Mathis is entering his third season and has two years remaining on his rookie deal. Unlike Ridgeway, Mathis was a much higher pick, going No. 47 overall in 2022. Mathis hasn’t contributed much in his first two seasons, but he showed up motivated to join the new regime. Quinn has praised him more than once. Mathis finished the preseason on a strong note. Washington would probably keep both if it didn’t have so many good options. Mathis and Ridgeway are similar, but Ridgeway offers a little more versatility.

LB/DE Jamin Davis

This doesn’t seem very likely but never say never. The Commanders moved the 2021 first-round pick to edge rusher this offseason, and he has worked at the position extensively throughout training camp and the preseason. Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have praised his work ethic and determination to tackle a new position. Washington likes Davis’ progress and believes he could help as a rotational pass rusher at some point. But if someone offered a draft pick, would Peters take it and move on?

S Darrick Forrest

This one is unfortunate. Forrest looked like a building block two years ago, starting at safety for most of the season. However, he’s battled injuries in his career, and under this new regime, Forrest has been working behind others. Another injury in camp didn’t help his cause. Forrest can play. It appears he’s caught up in a numbers game, and if no one makes an offer for him, Forrest could be released on Tuesday. He will catch on somewhere, as he can help a team defensively and on special teams.

Commanders Darrick Forrest enjoying the 2024 offseason

Darrick Forrest thrilled with Washington’s new leadership on and off the field.

Darrick Forrest is thus far enjoying the 2024 offseason.

The Commanders safety, now heading into his fourth NFL season, talked briefly with the Team 980 afternoon host Craig Hoffman after a practice last week.

“It’s been great, getting to know the new coaching staff and learning the new defense”, said Forrest. “Just having fun, getting to know each other.”

To get to know each other, Forrest told Hoffman that they simply got into a room and talked with one another and went over presentations about our lives, and there was boot camp with military coaches, and then as position groups, they also interacted.

“It’s about growing together. If our brotherhood is strong, then I know nothing is going to be able to stop us.”

Hoffman asked Forrest if he could share something he had learned about one of his new teammates. Forrest responded that being around new Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn, has been enjoyable. “Just getting to know his personality, just getting to see his leadership. It’s just great getting to learn from guys that have been able to do it (in the NFL).”

Hoffman asked what Bobby Wagner was like on the field. Forrest responded, “If you could put a gold medal on the field, he’s a gold medal man. He communicates; he sees some things before they happen. And he can get everybody lined up where they need to be. The way he goes about things, they way he gets in here early, the way he takes care of his body, he gets here early in the morning. He goes throughout his day with a routine.”

With new coaches, come new schemes, new emphases. “Now I have a lot more roles, so I am going closer to the line of scrimmage. It’s really about learning the full defense. It’s about knowing how to communicate. I can’t come out here and BS because I know it like the back of my hand. I am still learning things as I am going.”

Forrest also expressed that he is learning from Frankie Luvu. Both Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu were veterans brought in this offseason, and according to everyone, the two linebackers are having a positive effect on the players.

 

Did Kam Curl say goodbye to the Commanders?

Once the franchise tag deadline passed, the Washington safety appeared to say goodbye.

When the Washington Commanders selected safety Kam Curl in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft, he was initially considered an afterthought. That’s often the case with seventh-round picks.

That was until training camp. It was clear early in training camp that Curl was a keeper. The 6-foot-2 rookie would play all 16 games for Washington, starting 11 and finishing with three interceptions, including a touchdown.

The arrow was pointing up for Curl. Washington found a seventh-round gem in the former Arkansas Razorback.

Curl followed up his next season by playing all but one game and making 14 starts. Curl’s impact was particularly felt in 2022 when he missed five games that season.

Former coach Ron Rivera and ex-defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio always stressed how important Curl was to the team. If Rivera had his way, he would’ve extended Curl after last season, but with the team for sale, those types of moves were on the backburner. Then, Josh Harris took over in July, and it appeared any lucrative extensions were shelved until after the 2023 season.

The 2023 season is over, and Curl is a free agent. And the Commanders will not be placing the dreaded franchise tag on Curl, either. The deadline passed on Tuesday, and Washington tagged no one.

Curiously, Curl took to X — formerly known as Twitter — shortly after the franchise tag deadline passed and posted the following message — or emoji.

Is that Curl saying goodbye to Washington? Or is that an emotional tweet?

It’s hard to tell. We know the Commanders would like to have Curl back, but the days of overvaluing their own are over under Adam Peters. That’s not a knock on Curl. He’s earned the right to be back. But Peters has an idea of what he is willing to pay, Curl’s value, and the players he already has on the roster.

What does that mean?

We’ll see next week.

The free-agent safety market is robust, even with tags applied to some of the better ones. Still, Curl will have a market. He is a good player. Will that market lead him back to Washington?

 

Former Washington safety makes his case for a return with recent injuries

D.J. Swearinger letting the Commanders know he’s ready.

The Washington Commanders placed two safeties on injured reserve Monday. Head coach Ron Rivera hopes Darrick Forrest and Jeremy Reaves are only out for the minimum of four weeks, but their statuses will be determined later in the week.

Reaves is a captain and an All-Pro on special teams, while Forrest is a starting safety alongside Kamren Curl. Rivera said rookie Quan Martin and second-year safety Percy Butler will be in line to replace Forrest while he’s out.

To fill one of those spots, Washington signed safety Terrell Burgess from the practice squad. Burgess spent training camp and the preseason with the Commanders.

However, another veteran safety made his case to join Washington’s roster. D.J. Swearinger, who played two years for Washington from 2017-18, went on Twitter to let the Commanders know he’s ready for a return.

Swearinger is 32 now, and this isn’t the first time he’s spoken of wanting to return. Swearinger played well for Washington but was released late in the 2018 season after repeated public criticisms of the coaching staff.

He’s spent time with seven different NFL teams and played for the XFL’s D.C. Defenders earlier this spring.

While Swearinger’s return is a long shot, you can’t fault him for trying.

Commanders to sign safety Terrell Burgess to active roster

The Commanders to add some safety depth.

The Washington Commanders placed safeties Darrick Forrest and Jeremy Reaves on IR on Monday. While the length of their absences has yet to be determined, head coach Ron Rivera made it clear young DBs Percy Butler and Quan Martin would have the first chance to fill Forrest’s shoes in the starting lineup.

While Butler and Martin will receive an increase in playing time, the Commanders were left with some depth concerns. Fortunately for the Commanders, veteran safety Terrell Burgess was on the practice squad.

Now, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, Washington will sign Burgess to the 53-man roster.

Burgess initially signed with Washington in May and was with the team throughout the spring and summer before he was released during final cuts. The Commanders immediately re-signed Burgess to their practice squad.

A third-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams out of Utah in 2020, Burgess played less than two seasons with L.A. before being waived in November 2022. He quickly signed with the Giants, where he appeared in one game.

Burgess has appeared in 31 career games with 29 tackles. Burgess can provide safety depth for the Commanders and help fill Reaves’ massive void on special teams.

Commanders place safeties Jeremy Reaves, Darrick Forrest on IR

It creates an opportunity for a pair of recent draft picks.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera met with the media Monday and announced two injuries.

Safeties Darrick Forrest and Jeremy Reaves were both placed on the reserve injured list after suffering injuries in Thursday night’s 40-20 loss to the Chicago Bears.

“Just to give a couple of quick updates on some injuries from Thursday night,” Rivera said to begin his press conference. Darrick Forrest had a shoulder, and Jeremy Reeves had a knee, and we’ll be moving both those guys to IR. Pending further examinations, we’ll be able to determine the length.”

When asked about the specifics on the injuries, Rivera offered the following.

“Shoulder injury and knee injury. Once we get a little bit more from the doctors, we will probably be able to give you guys more in the next day or two.”

Forrest has started at safety since the start of the 2022 season, while Reaves is a backup safety but makes his presence felt on special teams. Reaves was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler on special teams last season.

While this is difficult news for the Commanders, there are a pair of young players waiting in the wings with prime opportunities.

“That’s a role that Percy [Butler] and ‘Quan’ [Martin] will be looking at,” Rivera said of Forrest’s starting safety role. 

Butler is a second-year safety from Louisiana who was a fourth-round pick in 2022. He has seen plenty of action through the first five games. Martin is a rookie second-round pick who has yet to play a defensive snap.

The Commanders have allowed 30 or more points in four consecutive games and play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.

Rivera names Percy Butler as a player to keep an eye on

Could Percy Butler be the Darrick Forrest of 2023?

When the Washington Commanders selected safety Percy Butler in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, they had special teams in mind. Butler was a player that NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah called the best “special teams coverage player in the entire draft.”

The 6-foot-0, 194-pound Butler put on a show in his pre-draft testing, running the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds. A three-year starter at Louisiana, Butler blossomed into an All-Sun Belt Conference performer on defense.

The Commanders loved Butler’s athletic profile, his physicality and his versatility when selecting him in the fourth round. As a rookie, Butler could fill a number of roles, such as safety, slot cornerback, or Buffalo nickel. But his main role would be on special teams.

Butler would play in 15 games as a rookie, participating in 66% of the special teams’ snaps. He played just 135 snaps on defense.

Could he see a bigger role in 2023?

If you ask head coach Ron Rivera, then yes, he could.

“You know, another young guy to keep an eye on is Percy [Butler],” Rivera said. “You know, Percy’s a guy that runs very well and plays very fast. So, you’ve gotta find ways to get those types of players on the field.”

Rivera mentioned Butler in response to a question about third-year safety Darrick Forrest Jr. Forrest was a fifth-round pick in 2021, and he played mostly special teams as a rookie. In eight games played, Forrest participated in 82% of the special teams’ snaps and just 26 snaps on defense.

Last season, Forrest impressed throughout the offseason enough to earn a starting spot in Week 1 with Kamren Curl out. Forrest was so good, bringing down a key interception that led the Commanders to a win, that when Curl returned, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio made him a permanent starter.

Butler is a lot like Forrest. He starred on special teams, is athletic and also a hard hitter. While Curl and Forrest have the top two safety spots locked up, there is a role for Butler in 2023.

Could Butler be the 2023 version of Forrest?

The Commanders have an exciting young secondary featuring Curl, Forrest, Butler, Benjamin St-Juste and rookies Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin, paired with veterans Kendall Fuller and Jeremy Reaves.

Washington’s defense should be fun to watch in 2023.

Ranking Commanders 25 most important players for 2023: No. 7

Kamren Curl enters a contract season.

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As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Monday, No. 8 was wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

We continue our countdown today with No. 7, safety Kamren Curl.

Curl is entering his fourth NFL season in 2023 and is eligible for a contract extension. If not for Washington’s ownership situation this offseason, Curl may have already received that extension. The good news for Curl is that new ownership will be in place this week.

As for Curl’s importance to the Commanders, look no further than four of the five games he missed in 2022. Curl missed the first two games of the season due to having wrist surgery. In those two games, Washington allowed five touchdown passes with one interception.

When Curl returned in Week 3, Washington’s passing defense slowly improved. Curl was outstanding last season, and his fellow defensive backs played much better when he was in the lineup. Unfortunately, Curl missed the season’s final three games, and the pass defense felt his absence in two of those games.

The Commanders had no answer for Brock Purdy in George Kittle in Week 16. While Week 17 will be remembered for quarterback Carson Wentz’s meltdown, Washington’s pass defense allowed Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to have his best performance, with three touchdown passes.

Head coach Ron Rivera knows Curl’s value. While Washington does have Darrick Forrest — a breakout player last season — Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves, Curl is productive and brings great leadership. Forrest emerged as Curl’s partner at safety, and the duo was terrific at times.

The Commanders have good depth at safety. But Curl has proven his value. While some in the NFL may not view Curl as a top-10 safety, no one knows his value like Washington. If defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat can get to the quarterback more frequently in 2023, it only makes Curl and the secondary’s jobs that much easier.

The 2023 season is huge for Curl. Don’t be surprised if Washington agrees to a deal with Curl long before next offseason.