Tag: David Bada

Commanders sign defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi

Ndubuisi is a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters remains busy. On Monday, Peters added running back Jeremy McNichols and quarterback Jeff Driskel to Washington’s offseason roster. On Tuesday, Peters added linebacker Mykal Walker.

On Wednesday, Peters did it again, signing defensive lineman Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because Ndubuisi is from Nigeria and a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

The 23-year-old defensive lineman is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 298 pounds. He spent last season with the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. In 2022, Ndubuisi was assigned to the Arizona Cardinals as an offensive lineman, appearing in one preseason game before he was released.

Ndubuisi has an incredible story. Growing up in Nigeria, he played soccer and basketball before seeing the NFL on YouTube and he was hooked. Unfortunately, Nigeria didn’t have many football teams, so he practiced alone, or would bring his friends to fields to re-enact what he would see in the videos.

In 2021, he received a break when joined the UpRise Academy, which helps identify and develop African talent and was co-founded by former Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

As a part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, Ndubuisi will not count against Washington’s 90-man offseason roster.

The Commanders have seen players from the international program make the final roster. In recent years, David Bada and Sammis Reyes were on Washington’s roster.

Commanders DT David Bada placed on IR with torn tricep

Bada initially came to Washington in 2020.

Defensive tackle David Bada came to the Washington Commanders in 2020 as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. Bada, a native of Germany, has gone back and forth from Washington’s main roster to the practice squad over the last three seasons.

On Wednesday, Bada tore his tricep, and the Commanders placed him on the reserve/injured list, likely ending his season.

Washington signed defensive tackle Curtis Brooks to replace Bada on the 90-man roster. Brooks is entering his second NFL season. He was a sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. Brooks was waived during final cuts last summer and re-signed to the practice squad.

The Tennessee Titans signed Brooks off the Colts’ practice squad, and he remained on their roster until he was released last week. He has yet to appear in an NFL game. The 6-foot-2, 285-pound Brooks is 25 years old and was graded highly by Pro Football Focus during his final college season.

Brooks has an uphill climb to make Washington’s 53-man roster. Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, John Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis are roster locks and make up arguably the strongest position on the roster. Veteran Abdullah Anderson is also on the Commaders’ roster.

Commanders make three roster moves Saturday

The Washington Commanders made some roster moves ahead of Week 12.

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As expected with the personnel news the Commanders announced Friday; there were corresponding roster moves made Saturday as well.

With Dax Milne being unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, the Commanders elevated WR Alex Erickson up from the Practice Squad. 

Erickson will be the final wide receiver, filling the role that’s been held by Milne this season. It had been reported that Penn State rookie Jahan Dotson would be returning punts in the absence of Milne. Perhaps Erickson may be returning punts himself with Dotson being the backup punt returner? Erickson does have NFL returning experience, and perhaps the Commanders’ coaching staff determined they would rather utilize his experience in the role.

Saturday also saw the Commanders release Troy Apke from the practice squad. This is the third time this season the Commanders have released Apke who was a fourth-round draft choice (109) out of Penn State in the 2018 NFL draft.

The third roster move Saturday saw the Commanders sign DT David Bada from the International Pathway Program to the practice squad. Bada, age 27, is listed at 6-foot-4, 293 pounds. Adding Bada to the practice squad, the team had to release someone, and that lot fell apparently to Apke. 

Washington cuts two more at deadline, including former draft pick

Washington trimmed its roster to 85 players on Tuesday. The team’s roster actually sits at 86, but defensive lineman David Bada has a roster exemption due to being in the International Pathway Program.

The Washington Football Team released two more players on Tuesday before the NFL’s 4 p.m. ET deadline to trim rosters to 85 players.

The WFT released cornerback Greg Stroman and tight end Nick Guggemos.

Washington now has 86 players, as defensive lineman David Bada does not count against the team’s roster limit because he is in the International Pathway Program.

The Football Team will likely have to cut another player soon as offensive tackle David Sharpe appears close to being activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Stroman was a seventh-round pick back in 2018 out of Virginia Tech. He played in 15 games as a rookie for Washington but has only played in five games in the last two seasons. He was waived with an injury designation each season and reverted to the WFT’s injured reserve.

Guggemos signed on July 29. Washington added another tight end this week when it claimed Caleb Wilson off waivers from Philadelphia.

The next cut deadline is on Aug. 24, when NFL teams must trim the roster to 80 players. Final cuts will be due on Aug. 31 as teams make their initial 53-man roster.