Tag: Jake Fromm

Commanders release quarterback Jake Fromm

The Commanders released QB Jake Fromm.

The Washington Commanders released quarterback Jake Fromm on Tuesday ahead of the team’s first OTAs.

Fromm initially signed with Washington’s practice squad on Oct. 18, 2022. He remained on the practice squad for the remainder of that season and, in January, signed a reserve/future contract.

Fromm acted as Washington’s third quarterback throughout last offseason and in training camp. Fromm had some impressive moments in preseason but was released as the Commanders chose to keep two quarterbacks. Washington quickly re-signed Fromm to the practice squad.

Fromm’s release wasn’t a surprise, given all of the Commanders’ changes. Washington has a new general manager (Adam Peters), head coach (Dan Quinn) and offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury). Additionally, Sam Howell was traded and Jacoby Brissett departed via free agency, meaning the new regime was changing the entire quarterback room.

The Commanders signed veteran Marcus Mariota in March, followed by another veteran, Jeff Driskel. Washington’s big move was selecting former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall. After the draft, the Commanders added former Wake Forest and Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman as a priority free agent.

Fromm entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL draft. He was released during final cuts in 2021 and re-signed to Buffalo’s practice squad. The New York Giants signed Fromm off Buffalo’s practice squad, but he was later signed to the active roster and started two games.

Commanders sign veteran QB Jeff Driskel

The Commanders now have three quarterbacks on the roster.

Washington general manager Adam Peters added another veteran quarterback to the roster on Monday, signing Jeff Driskel the day before the Commanders open the offseason program.

Washington now has three quarterbacks on the roster, as Driskel joins Marcus Mariota (signed last month) and Jake Fromm. The Commanders are expected to select a quarterback at No. 2 overall in this month’s 2024 NFL draft.

Driskel, who will turn 31 this month, has been in the NFL since 2016, when he entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Louisiana Tech. Before his lone season at Louisiana Tech, Driskel spent four seasons at the University of Florida, where he started on and off for his final three seasons.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Driskel was a sixth-round pick of the 49ers in 2016, which was Peters’ first season there. San Francisco waived him during final cuts, and he was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent two years with the Bengals, some of which he was injured, but he did start the final five games of the 2018 season.

The Bengals waived Driskel, and the Detroit Lions claimed him. He started three games for the Lions in 2019 and finished the season on injured reserve. He spent the 2020 season with the Denver Broncos, appearing in three games and making one start. After the Broncos waived him in May, he signed with the Houston Texans.

Driskel played for the Texans for two seasons, playing in eight games with one start. He spent most of the 2023 season on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad before he was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ 53-man roster in December. He would start in Cleveland’s regular-season finale.

For his career, Driskel has appeared in 24 games with 12 starts. He was one career win as a starting quarterback, completing 229 of his 391 passing attempts (58.6%) for 2,394 yards (6.4 YPA), with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has rushed for 417 yards and three touchdowns.

Driskel was likely signed as an extra quarterback for the offseason program in training camp. Once Washington drafts a quarterback, Driskel isn’t likely to make the roster, or he’ll compete with Fromm for the Commanders’ third quarterback position.

Does Marcus Mariota signing suggest Commanders will take Jayden Daniels?

Does the expected signing of Mariota give us a clue about the Commanders’ plan at No. 2?

The Washington Commanders added a veteran quarterback on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Marcus Mariota.

No big deal, right?

Mariota joins a roster that features 2023 starter Sam Howell (entering his third season) and Jake Fromm. Washington is widely expected to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Mariota’s signing could give us an indication of which way the Commanders are leaning.

Mariota, like LSU quarterback Daniels, is a former Heisman Trophy winner. Mariota won the award in 2014 for his ability as a dual-threat passer for Oregon. Daniels won it in 2023, passing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, only four interceptions and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Does this tell us that GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury already have a preference?

Daniels is a far more advanced passer than Mariota was at any time. However, Kingsbury made it clear how important mobility is for the quarterback position.

Signing Mariota doesn’t necessarily mean Washington wants Daniels over Drake Maye. And here’s another thing that’s often lost: Drake Maye is exceptionally athletic, too.

On Monday, it was revealed the Commanders were checking in on Sam Darnold as a potential veteran option. Darnold is not known for his mobility. He eventually signed with the Vikings for a chance to start.

While on the surface, it would appear that Mariota’s signing would mean Washington is leaning toward Daniels, that’s far from a certainty. Several NFL teams don’t need the backup quarterback’s skills to mirror the starting quarterback. The Commanders aren’t running an option offense. Daniels and Maye are both passers first who can run.

So while it’s easy to draw in the blanks and think Mariota automatically means Daniels is coming to Washington, slow down. There’s a long way to go until the first round of next month’s 2024 NFL draft.

The more immediate thought is, what does this mean for Howell?

 

Commanders place multiple starters on IR ahead of Week 17

The Commanders made a host of moves Saturday, including ending the seasons of LT Charles Leno Jr and C Tyler Larsen.

The Washington Commanders ruled out multiple starters for Sunday’s Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Left tackle Charles Leno Jr., center Tyler Larsen, safety Percy Butler, cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste will all miss Sunday’s game.

On Saturday, Washington ended the seasons of Leno, Larsen and Butler by placing all three players on injured reserve. That means Cornelius Lucas will start at left tackle, Nick Gates at center and Terrell Burgess will likely replace Butler. With so many injuries in the secondary for the game against San Francisco, the Commanders elevated two defensive backs from the practice squad for Week 17.

Safety Sean Chandler and cornerback Nick Whiteside II will provide depth behind Quan Martin, Emmanuel Forbes, Kam Curl, Burgess and Tariq Castro-Fields. Castro-Fields has yet to play a defensive snap this season.

The Commanders also promoted long-snapper Tucker Addington, which was the plan when they signed him after releasing Camaron Cheeseman. And with the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Jake Fromm will be active for the first time this season.

In another move, offensive tackle Alex Akingbulu was signed from the practice squad to give Washington depth in Leno’s absence.

The 49ers are one of the NFL’s best teams, so things could get ugly in Landover on Sunday.

 

Matthew Stafford joked about getting ‘the old man treatment’ from fellow former Georgia QB Jake Fromm in meeting

Time waits for no former Georgia Bulldog, including Matthew Stafford.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has officially entered the “I watched you play when I was a kid!” phase of his career.

After saying hello to former Georgia and now Washington Commanders quarterback Jake Fromm, Stafford joked about Fromm telling him that he grew up watching the Rams quarterback play football for the Bulldogs.

Fromm played at Georgia from 2017-19, which is about a decade after Stafford played at the school (2006-08). Stafford is also a decade (35) older than Fromm (25) is, and that’s a great reason for how Fromm could’ve watched Stafford while he was growing up.

For Stafford, it’s a tough-yet-hilarious reminder about the passage of time and how much younger some of the players are in the NFL at this point in his career.

You just never know who you’re going to meet on game day, and Stafford got to say hello to one of his successors with the Bulldogs, one who he inspired during his 2000s playing days in Athens.

It’s a really cool interaction, and a sign of the times, too.

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Behind Enemy Lines: Week 7 Q&A with Commanders Wire

With a Week 7 matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Commanders Wire.

The New York Giants (1-5) and Washington Commanders (3-3) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Giants opened the week as 1.5-point home underdogs but that has only gotten worse since then. They are +3 as of this writing.

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.

Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm takes spot on Commanders’ practice squad

Fromm is staying in Washington after being released earlier this week…

The Washington Commanders signed former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm to their practice squad following his release this week.

Fromm was expected to make an NFL roster after a productive preseason competing with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the backup role behind starter Sam Howell.

Fromm completed 13-of-18 passes for 144 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Washington’s 21-19 win over Cincinnati in the final preseason matchup.

The highlight of Fromm’s preseason came in a comeback win that snapped the Baltimore Ravens’ preseason winning streak in Week 2. Fromm finished 10-of-16 passing for 91 yards and a touchdown.

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Fromm could have a long pro career if he keeps producing when given opportunities.

Commanders announced 15 players signed to the practice squad

Jake Fromm, Mason Brooks and Kazmeir Allen are among those back.

The Washington Commanders wasted no time in formulating their practice squad Wednesday, announcing they had signed 15 players. Teams can have 16 players on the practice squad, so the Commanders have an open spot. However, that opening is expected to go to linebacker Jabril Cox, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, per Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network.

For those worrying about Washington losing quarterback Jake Fromm or rookie wide receiver Kazmeir Allen, both are back on the practice squad. Fromm had an excellent preseason and will be Washington’s third quarterback.

Allen, an undrafted rookie from UCLA, was a running back in college before moving to wide receiver in his final season. He proved to be an electric kick returner in college but had no experience returning punts. Washington tried him at returning punts, and while he showed promise, he muffed a punt in the preseason finale.

Of the 15 players announced, all were with the Commanders in training camp and the preseason.

Here is the complete list:

  • QB Jake Fromm
  • RB Derrick Gore
  • RB/TE Alex Armah
  • WR Kazmeir Allen
  • WR Brycen Tremayne
  • G Mason Brooks
  • G/C Nolan Laufenberg
  • T Alex Akingbulu
  • T Jaryd Jones-Smith
  • DE William Bradley-King
  • DT Benning Potoa’e
  • LB De’Jon Harris
  • CB Nick Whiteside
  • CB Tariq Castro-Fields
  • S Terrell Burgess

Commanders 2023 practice squad tracker

Keep up with all of the Commanders’ practice squad additions here.

The Washington Commanders’ initial 53-man roster is set. But, as general manager Martin Mayhew said on Tuesday, it is “very fluid.”

There will be changes. Some due to waivers, some due to injuries and some due to re-signing veterans.

Which players could the Commanders bring back to the practice squad? Head coach Ron Rivera said most players released on Tuesday were candidates to return to the practice squad, whereas those released on Monday were less likely to be brought back.

Players such as quarterback Jake Fromm, running back Derrick Gore and wide receiver Kazmeir Allen are prime candidates to return if not claimed by another NFL team.

Track all of Washington’s practice squad additions below.

8 takeaways from Commanders’ initial 53-man roster

7 wide receivers? 11 defensive linemen? Some takeaways on the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster.

The Washington Commanders were busy trimming their roster from 90 to 53 players over the last two days. Washington released 12 players on Monday and placed rookie offensive tackle Braeden Daniels on the reserve/injured list with a torn rotator cuff.

On Tuesday, Washington continued making moves and announced its initial 53-man roster before the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline. There weren’t many surprises for the Commanders, but some things did stand out.

Before we offer our thoughts on the first 53-man roster of the 2023 season, let’s stress again that it is the initial roster, and general manager Martin Mayhew called it “very fluid” right now.

Here are six takeaways from the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster.