Tag: DT Sheldon Day

Commanders make no practice squad elevations: What does that mean?

Commanders make no practice squad. What does that mean for Jayden Daniels?

The Commanders passed on elevating anyone this week from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

The deadline, 4 p.m., passed, and the Commanders made no moves this week. League rules stipulate that a player can only be elevated twice during the season from the practice squad to the active roster. They must be signed to the active roster when elevated a third time.

Understandably, there was much speculation and anticipation, wondering if quarterback Sam Hartman might be elevated to be a third quarterback for Sunday. If the move had been made, it most likely would have revealed the Commanders’ intention to list starter Jayden Daniels as “inactive” against the Bears.

Daniels is listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game against the Bears. He suffered a rib injury on Washington’s first offensive possession in their Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers.

Additionally, the Commanders have already signed two to the active roster in the last ten days. DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste and DT Jonathan Allen were injured and sent to the injured reserve list, and the Commanders signed DT Sheldon Day from the practice squad. Then, GM Adam Peters signed DE Jalyn Holmes to the active roster. Holmes had just been released by the Jets.

Finally, the Commanders activated rookie LB Jordan Magee this week (October 23) from injured reserve to the 53-man roster. So, they have been making plenty of moves and apparently felt they didn’t need another roster move for this week.

Commanders need more from DT Daron Payne

With Jonathan Allen out, Commanders need Daron Payne more than ever.

Daron Payne is not having one of his better seasons.

The former Alabama defensive tackle taken first round in the 2018 NFL draft had his biggest season in 2021, earned himself a big contract and hasn’t been as productive this season.

Payne thus far, through six games played, has contributed eight tackles (6 solo, 2 Assists). However, Payne has only produced two QB hits, 0.5 QB sacks, and zero tackles for a loss.

On Thursday, before the media, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. was asked about last Sunday’s game in which Payne did not record a defensive statistic.

“Sometimes that’s going to happen. I’m not going to just dive into stats totally. He’s given us what we want. For the run game, alright, they ran for yards. It wasn’t because of him, alright. It was some other issues that they ran for. So, he’s one of our leaders and he’s doing the things that he needs to do.”

On Sunday, against the Panthers, Payne will have to begin playing without long-time partner Jonathan Allen, also from Alabama. Allen tore a pectoral muscle against the Ravens last week, requiring surgery. Allen will miss the remainder of 2024.

Thus, Payne will now start alongside rookie Johnny Newton (Illinois). Not only will Newton receive more snaps, but also reserve tackle Phidarian Mathis will be called upon more often. DT Sheldon Day was elevated to the active roster and DT Jalyn Holmes was signed. The Commanders also signed DT Carl Davis to the practice squad.

Commanders’ rookie DT Newton pushing hard to make NFL debut

The Commanders are hopeful about rookie DT Johnny Newton making his debut soon.

Johnny Newton, a defensive tackle out of Illinois, was drafted 36th overall by the Commanders last April and is apparently closer to playing.

Newton had to undergo surgery to repair a Jones fracture shortly after the Commanders drafted him. Head coach Dan Quinn was asked Wednesday regarding Newton’s rehab and return.

“When you are coming back from this, you may see him out today (Wednesday), but that’s to set up for tomorrow,” began Quinn. “So we pushed it hard with him conditioning yesterday (Tuesday). Hold today, but we wanted the padded day for him tomorrow then. So we are trending in the right way, much like we were talking about with Noah (Brown).”

The Commanders played four defensive tackles in the hot, muggy Tampa season opener. Of the defensive snaps, Jon Allen and Daron Payne both played 64% and 62%, respectively. They were given breathers by Phidarian Mathis and Sheldon Day, both seeing action on 36% of the defensive snaps.

The Commanders could use someone like Newton, inside making some penetration as Matt Ioannidis used to do, coming in to spell Allen and or Payne.

https://twitter.com/JPFinlayNBCS/status/1832840617342251025

“We’ll kind of have a better sense for when we get to Friday,” continued Quinn. “But he’s definitely trending in the right spot. So, we’re close for sure. But I’ll trust my eyes and make sure he is going through all the whole process to get ready. But he’s definitely pushing it hard to get into this mix.”

It’s not certain the Commanders would have five defensive tackles active Sunday in the home opener against the Giants. If the Commanders declare four again as active, and Newton is active for the first time, he would replace either Mathis or Day.

Former Commanders’ third-round pick Stromberg was waived/injured

An update on former third-round pick Ricky Stromberg.

On August 27, the Commanders, trimming their roster from 90 to the NFL requirements of 53, released many players, including G/C Ricky Stromberg.

On Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that Stromberg, who injured his knee midway through his rookie season, recently underwent a knee scope. Consequently, he will not be available for about two months.

This explains last week’s surprise when Stromberg was not brought back and signed to the practice squad. One day later, on August 28, the Commanders signed 12 players to the practice squad, including G Julian Good-Jones but not Stromberg. Also signed to the practice squad was G Max Scharping (age 28). Out of Northern Illinois, this is Scharping’s sixth season. He is listed at 6-6, 327, and has been issued Joe Jacoby’s old No. 66.

The former Arkansas Razorback was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft during the Ron Rivera era. Stromberg was selected No. 97 overall, though analysts were quick to remind fans that he was projected somewhat later.

Stromberg was not picked up by any other NFL club, to our knowledge. Also, the Commanders’ website lists CB Bobby Price and DT Sheldon Day as actually being on their roster rather than the practice squad. Surely, that is a clerical error, and they have yet to notice, correct?

https://twitter.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1830735949430415411

Once Stromberg is cleared, he’ll likely join another team.