Tag: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Commanders make three roster moves, including surprise release

The Commanders made three roster moves Saturday, including a surprise release.

Both the Commanders and Cowboys made some roster moves in preparation for Sunday’s game at Northwest Stadium.

Roster moves were inevitable, but it was unexpected that Chris Rodriguez would be released. The second-year running back out of Kentucky by Ron Rivera, ran well, rushing for 52 yards on 11 carries against the NY Giants three weeks ago.

Someone had to be released because the Commanders activated DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste from injured reserve, removing him from the injury report.

Thirdly, the Commanders have removed kicker Austin Seibert from the injury report, yet haven’t released backup kicker Zane Gonzalez.

Dallas waived former Washington defensive end KJ Henry and placed S Markquese Bell on IR. The Cowboys also activated T Chuma Edoga and DE Marshawn Kneeland from IR, and both are expected to play Sunday.

The Cowboys also announced WR Brandin Cooks, CB Trevon Diggs and G Zack Martin won’t be playing against the Commanders, Sunday. In addition, TE Princeton Fant and CB Kemon Hall were activated from the practice squad.

Adam Peters continues strengthening Commanders

Adam Peters continues to make all the right moves.

On Wednesday, in his press conference, Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters said, on more than one occasion, that he wanted to do what was good for the team.

Who could dare argue that Peters has done a fantastic job of repeatedly addressing the roster and seeing what changes he can make that are good for the team?

When hired, David Aldridge of The Athletic asked Peters what he thought of the roster. Peters didn’t reply immediately. He paused, took a breath, and replied that there were a few cornerstone pieces to the roster, and he had a lot of work to do.

And work is what Peters has done. He did not tweak Ron Rivera’s roster. Peters overhauled Rivera’s roster. After training camp, when the roster was reduced to 53, 30 were those brought in by Peters since taking the job.


Rather than being satisfied with his efforts,  Peters immediately returned to the driver’s seat and made quite a few decisions in the next week. He signed receiver Noah Brown (cut by the Texans), traded defensive tackle John Ridgeway to the Saints, signed linebacker Nick Bellore (released by the Seahawks), re-signed tackle Sam Cosmi to a four-year contract, and released receiver Byron Pringle; these all before the opener.

Once the season began, Peters released kicker Cade York, but the Jets released kicker Austin Seibert, so Peters quickly grabbed Seibert.

A few weeks later, veteran DT Jonathan Allen was lost for the season, and DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste was placed on injured reserve for at least four weeks. Well, the Jets had just released DE Jalyn Holmes. Instead of promoting a DE from the practice squad, Peters felt that the best thing for the team was to sign Holmes to the active roster. Holmes played only 11 defensive snaps against the Bears, but one of those, he had a quarterback sack.

Two weeks ago, Peters released Jamin Davis, a first-round draft choice by Rivera in 2021. This week, he traded for veteran Saints corner Marshon Lattimore and released DE Efe Obada, making room for Lattimore.

On Wednesday, Peters released WR Mike Strachan. Why? With DE Clelin Ferrell’s knee still not 100%, Peters brought back Obada to the practice squad, doing what he thinks strengthens the Commanders.

Commanders suffer multiple injuries on the defensive line

Commanders lost more than a game in Week 6.

The Commanders’ loss to the Ravens Sunday was not their biggest loss.

On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn told the press that DT Jonathan Allen had suffered a pectoral tear, and the team would miss Allen this season as he was looking at season-ending surgery.

You don’t simply replace a Jonathan Allen player and leader.

“Yeah, for sure. It’ll be a multitude of people and roles, and how we can feature guys to do that because Jon’s rare and he’s got unique skills and talent. So, it’s not just plug and play,” Quinn said.

Quinn then pointed to the depth at the position for the Commanders. “We got a big, deep crew and we’ll feature all of them a little bit differently and finding the ways that we can do that. But we’ll certainly miss Jon and the strength and the attitude that he brings inside.”

But Allen was not the only defensive lineman injured Sunday.

Quin said Dorance Armstrong had a rib or oblique injury, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste has an ankle injury. We will hopefully get some more information on that. “The X-rays were negative, but certainly dealing with the type of sprains and things to go.”

The return of Efe Obada was just in time because he is certainly going to be needed now without Allen. Quinn did not dismiss the possibility that the Commanders might now be forced to acquire another lineman.
“It’ll be something that [General Manager] Adam [Peters] and his staff and I will visit with about.”

But he also stated that players on the depth chart need to prepare for unexpected injuries. He spoke of Jeremy McNichols as a prime example of “staying ready, and your moment comes, you nail it.” He’s the one on our team right now that comes to mind first.

Clelin Ferrell ‘out’ for Commanders on Monday vs. Bengals

What does this mean for Jamin Davis and Javontae Jean-Baptiste?

Head coach Dan Quinn likes to be positive, but on Saturday, he announced that the Commanders would not have Clelin Ferrell on Monday.

The former Clemson defensive end started both of the first two games and also collected a quarterback sack in each game. However, Ferrell’s left knee problem is still lingering; therefore, he wasn’t able to practice Saturday, so the team has already declared he won’t be available Monday against the Bengals.

“He’s a warrior presence for us in terms of the toughness and all that he brings,” said Quinn. “But it just hasn’t turned quickly enough for him to be fully him.”

This is not good news, seeing that a key to Monday’s game is that the Commanders absolutely must get to quarterback Joe Burrow. If they don’t manufacture enough hurries, quarterback hits, and quarterback sacks, the Bengals’ receiving group will most likely dominate the Commanders secondary.

This would indicate that Jamin Davis, who was inactive against the Giants, will now fill Ferrell’s spot on the active roster against the Bengals. Quinn had ample opportunity to discuss this, but what is worth noting is how Quinn used his opportunity Saturday to refer to rookie end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

“I would say with Javontae, I’ve really felt the pass rush starting to turn. He spent lots of time with (DL coach) Darryl (Tapp) and (pass rush specialist) Ryan (Kerrigan) over the last few weeks. And it doesn’t come at once; these bursts, they happen again. I felt that with him this week. He’ll get more reps, he’s earned them, he’s ready for it.”

Consequently, it appears Jean-Baptiste will get more of the snaps and that Davis and Dante Fowler will also get an increase in game snaps.

In the first two games, Ferrell had contributed four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and two quarterback sacks.

 

Second-half observations from Commanders’ preseason loss to Dolphins

10 observations from the Commanders’ preseason loss to the Dolphins.

Mitchell Tinsley did not make the catch that would have been a fourth-down touchdown from the 7-yard line as the Commanders fell 13-6 to the Dolphins.

Here are my Top 10 observations from the second half of Saturday’s game:

  1. The Commanders’ first defensive possession saw bad tackling to 75 yards gained by Miami. However, on third down, rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste came up with a -6-yard sack, forcing a field goal.
  2. On the Commanders’ first offensive possession of the half, Luke McCaffrey and Ben Sinnott (two rookie draft choices) had catches, and Sinnott again displayed toughness in refusing to go down.
  3. When Miami had driven to the Commanders’ 14-yard line, Jamin Davis broke through and executed a sack-fumble, which Andre Jones recovered.
  4. Trace McSorley was in a tough spot, this being only his third day with the team. He fumbled his first snap, was sacked, and threw an incompletion on third down; it was a tough first series.
  5. Rookie Michael Wiley again impressed tonight. He appeared to help in pass blocking and had a 23-yard reception during his three receptions. Wiley is making enough plays that other teams in the NFL now know about him.
  6. Colson Yankoff only had one catch for 6 yards but I spotted him twice on special teams really hustling. Don’t count him out yet. He has next week to also make an impression at tight end.
  7. Kazmeir Allen has the coaches liking his explosiveness. Last week, it was an end-around. This week, he was returning kicks and getting carries in the backfield. But then he fumbled.
  8. Noticed some good corner play in the second half. Noah Igbinoghene and Chigozie Anusiem both charged forward, each converting a tackle for the loss. Tariq Castro-Fields, in the second half, displayed some very capable pass coverage on more than a couple of occasions.
  9. Receiver Davion Davis had Trace McSorley put a pass right in his hands, which would have been a first down, but Davis dropped it.
  10. Dominique Hampton and Tyler Owens, two rookie safeties, exhibited size and aggressiveness. Hampton made four tackles (two solo), and Davis contributed three (two solo) with one for a loss.