Tag: Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Commanders receive positive injury news ahead of Week 12

The Commanders could get some defensive help back in time for Week 12.

The Washington Commanders could receive some pass-rush help ahead of their Week 12 game against the Dallas Cowboys.

On Wednesday, Washington opened the 21-day practice window for rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste was placed on injured reserve after the Week 6 game at Baltimore and missed the last five games. Before his ankle injury, Jean-Baptiste had played in every game, recording 14 tackles, including one for loss, one sack, four pressures, and two QB hits. Jean-Baptiste did this in a part-time role, playing in 36% of Washington’s defensive snaps.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Baptiste showed promise throughout the summer and early this season, giving the Commanders positive contributions from the bench.

The 21-day practice window means Washington has 21 days to either activate Jean-Baptiste to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending IR.

Dante Fowler Jr. leads Washington with 8.5 sacks, with linebacker Frankie Luvu right behind with seven. Dorance Armstrong is next with three sacks.

Jean-Baptiste participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, which is a positive sign that he’ll be activated in time for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. The Commanders will need to make a roster move to accommodate Jean-Baptiste.

Commanders make roster moves after Jonathan Allen’s injury

Rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste also lands on IR.

On Monday, the Washington Commanders lost a big part of their team when it was revealed that defensive tackle Jonathan Allen would miss the remainder of the season with a torn pec.

Washington made it official on Wednesday, placing Allen on the reserve/injured list. However, the Commanders made another move that impacts their defensive line depth, placing rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste on IR. However, Jean-Baptiste will be designated to return as head coach Dan Quinn doesn’t believe it’s a long-term issue.

“Dorance will not practice today and yes, we’re hoping it’s shorter than longer with Javonte with his ankle injury,” Quinn said. “So, we’re hopeful that it’s at the limit, and we’ll get a see for there. It’s too early to call today.”

Washington signed veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Day to the 53-man roster and replaced him with Carl Davis. Day was active for one game this season.

In another move, the Commanders also signed defensive end Jalyn Holmes. A fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, Holmes, 28, has spent time with the Vikings, Saints, Giants, Bears and, most recently, the Jets. Holmes appeared in three games for New York this season. In his career, Holmes has played in 44 games and has two sacks.

Starting defensive end Dorance Armstrong injured his ribs in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore, but Washington hopes his injury is short-term.

Why did the Commanders not play Jamin Davis in Week 2?

The Commanders had Jamin Davis inactive on Sunday after a productive Week 1.

When the Washington Commanders revealed their list of inactive players ahead of the Week 2 home opener against the New York Giants, it contained a surprise.

Fourth-year linebacker/edge rusher Jamin Davis was a healthy scratch. Davis, transitioning to defensive end/edge rusher from linebacker, played 13 snaps in the Week 1 game at Tampa Bay, making three tackles, including one for loss. Davis was sharp in his limited number of snaps.

Through two games, defensive end Clelin Ferrell has Washington’s only two sacks. None of the Commanders’ other edge rushers have applied consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, making head coach Dan Quinn’s decision to sit him in Week 2 even more puzzling.

One day after the Commanders defeated the Giants, Quinn explained why Davis did not play on Sunday.

“We actually put up five defensive tackles,” Quinn said. “We knew we were going to have a pitch count, so to speak on [DT] Johnny Newton. We felt with [Newton], 12-15 reps for his first game, we needed an extra big guy in the rotation for that game. So, it was more by design if Johnny was going to be up, then we were going to add an extra practice squad player up to have five defensive tackles as opposed to five [defensive ends] based on the limited playing time for Johnny. So, that was by design.”

Interestingly, on Saturday, the Commanders elevated veteran defensive end Carlos Watkins from the practice squad. So, essentially, Washington chose Watkins and rookie seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste over Davis as the fourth defensive end. The Commanders list Dante Fowler Jr. as a linebacker, but he’s also an edge rusher.

Washington knows Davis is a work in progress, but he also offers athleticism that the others in his position group lack. Why not continue to give him 15-20 pass-rushing snaps per week? It’s not like others in the position group are lighting up the stat sheet.

It will be interesting to see Davis’ usage in future weeks.

Rookie was overwhelmed when Commanders drafted him

Javontae Jean-Baptiste discusses his draft day and the emotion involved.

He was drafted No. 222 overall. Does Commanders rookie Javontae Jean-Baptiste have a chance to make the team?

Jean-Baptiste sat down with Bryan Colbert Jr. for an episode of “Command Center,” which is now implementing the use of “Raise Hail” as well during the program’s opening.

The rookie defensive end, drafted from Notre Dame, didn’t hesitate to comment on how things have moved quicker in the early workouts for the Commanders. He mentioned being told the workouts would be fast-paced but quickly added that he didn’t understand that until going through it himself last week.

He said on the third day of the draft when the phone rang, he did not know which team was calling.When told by Adam Peters on the phone that the Commanders were drafting him, Jean-Baptiste said the emotion overwhelmed him. “It just sunk in; I was on the phone ugly crying. I can’t believe they got me sounding like this,” recalls Jean-Baptiste.

Seeing he was not selected until selection 222, Jean-Baptiste said perhaps he cried because “It was anxiousness, family, all the hard work. It was just a wave of emotion hitting me at once. It was a big relief lifted off.”

The 6-foot-5, 239-pound defensive end said he thinks playing at programs like Ohio State and Notre Dame helped him learn and adapt quickly.

On the final draft day, the NFL draft covers rounds four through seven. Jean-Baptiste found himself thinking, “No, not me” (going undrafted), but sure enough, it was humbling, as he had to wait until the 222nd selection by Washington.

The rookie does possess some humility, readily admitting he needs to learn whatever he can during these off-season workouts. “You can learn something from everybody. You could pick up little traits from anyone. They don’t have to be in my position. Once you are around so much knowledge like that you got to become like a sponge and soak it all up.”

Commanders sign 4 members of their rookie class

The Commanders signed four members of their rookie class.

The Washington Commanders opened their rookie minicamp on Friday and handled some business beforehand.

The Commanders drafted nine players in last month’s 2024 NFL draft and signed four of those rookies on Friday.

Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (third round), linebacker Jordan Magee (fifth round), safety Dominique Hampton (fifth round) and defensive Javontae Jean-Baptiste (seventh round) all signed their rookie four-year contracts.

McCaffrey, the No. 100 overall pick out of Rice, began his college career as a quarterback at Nebraska. He transferred to Rice where he played the last two seasons as a wide receiver. McCaffrey is the younger brother of 49ers star Christian McCaffrey.

Magee was a three-year starter for Temple and will learn under the legendary Bobby Wagner as a rookie.

Hampton, an intriguing size/speed prospect from Washington, looks like the perfect Dan Quinn developmental player. Jean-Baptiste, who played five years at Ohio State and his final year at Notre Dame, became a starter and developed into a draftable prospect with his length and athleticism.

The Commanders will now turn their attention to signing Jayden Daniels, Johnny Newton, Mike Sainristil, Ben Sinnott and Brandon Coleman.

Commanders add former Ohio State edge rusher

Commanders add former Ohio State edge rusher #GoBucks

With the 222nd selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders select Javontae Jean-Baptiste, edge rusher from Notre Dame. when they announce the school, Jean-Baptiste is from they will say Notre Dame, but Ohio State fans have plenty of fond memories of the defensive end as well.

Jean-Baptiste was a former four-star recruit from the state of New Jersey and was very solid throughout his Ohio State career and was a consistent and reliable contributor for a majority of his five seasons in Columbus before he elected to transfer to South Bend.

Being a seventh-round selection, expectations are extremely low for Jean-Baptiste, but he has the skill set to contribute at the next level. Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye and we wish Jean-Baptiste good luck!

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on X.

2024 NFL Draft – Commanders Select Notre Dame’s Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Make it 6 former Golden Domers going in the draft!

A sixth former Notre Dame football standout has been selected in the 2024 NFL draft as defensive lineman Javontae Jean-Baptiste was selected by the Washington Commanders near the start of the seventh round.

Jean-Baptiste heard his name by the Commanders with the 222nd overall pick.  He spent one season at Notre Dame after being a graduate-transfer last year from Ohio State.

He played all 13 games for the Fighting Irish last season, making 49 tackles and leading the team with 10.5 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, and 11 quarterback hurries.

Jean-Baptiste deserves credit for his development but it also speaks to the skill of defensive line coach Al Washington who originally helped recruit the now Washington Commanders defender to Ohio State.

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Commanders select Notre Dame edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste at No. 222 overall

The Commanders finish off their 2024 draft by choosing Notre Dame edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

The 2024 NFL draft is in the books for the Washington Commanders. With their final pick — No. 222 overall in the seventh round — the Commanders selected Notre Dame edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

Jean-Baptise began his career at Ohio State, where he played five seasons, appeared in 44 games and made six starts. He had eight sacks during his time with the Buckeyes. In his one year at Notre Dame, Jean-Baptiste recorded 49 tackles, including a team-high 10. 5 for loss and five sacks. He played in every game and made 12 starts for the Fighting Irish.

Jean-Baptiste has exciting measurables, standing 6-foot-5, weighing 239 pounds with 33 3/4″ arms. Jean-Baptiste ran the 40-yard dash in 4.66 seconds.

The Commanders hosted Jean-Baptiste on a top 30 visit.

Here is NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on Jean-Baptiste:

After a five-year run at Ohio State with modest production, Jean-Baptiste’s Notre Dame tape has put him in position to become a developmental Day 3 draft pick. He has good length but lacks play strength to stack and discard tackles. He’ll need to hit the weights to improve his anchor, but he has the footwork and agility to slide off of block sustain and make tackles. He’s a step slow off the snap, dulling his ability to outrace tackles to the edge, but he flashes the hands and hips to become a more impactful rusher if teams rewire his rush plan. There is still a level of upside available for Jean-Baptiste.

Commanders to host Notre Dame edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste on top 30 visit

The Commanders to host an intriguing pass rusher on a pre-draft visit.

The Washington Commanders continue to schedule pre-draft visits ahead of next month’s 2024 NFL draft.

According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, the Commanders will host Notre Dame edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste on a top-30 visit.

Jean-Baptiste is an interesting prospect. He originally committed to Ohio State out of high school, where he spent the first four seasons of his college career. During his time with the Buckeyes, he appeared in 33 games, recording 51 tackles, including 10 for loss and eight sacks. Due to Ohio State’s depth, he often played a part-time role, so he transferred to Notre Dame for his final season.

Jean-Baptiste took advantage of the opportunity, playing in all 13 games and finishing with 49 tackles, 10.5 for loss and five sacks.

Now, the 6-foot-5, 239-pound Jean-Baptiste has himself on the radar of NFL scouts. He had an impressive combine, running the 40 in 4.66 seconds. He has outstanding length and is the type of player NFL teams will love to select on Day 3 of the draft so they can develop. Jean-Baptiste is an ideal development candidate because he possesses many tools needed to be a starting edge rusher in the NFL.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn has had plenty of success with players of similar profiles as Jean-Baptiste.

As we mentioned with Boston College cornerback Elijah Jones, Quinn and GM Adam Peters are looking for players with high-level traits, which Jean-Baptiste has with his length and athleticism.

Social media reacts to Jean-Baptiste scoring off blocked field goal

Holy moly.

Notre Dame didn’t start off well against Stanford, but that changed as the game progressed. By the fourth quarter, all that was left was to take whatever was left of the Cardinal’s soul. What was the best way to do that? How about [autotag]Jason Onye[/autotag] blocking a field-goal attempt and [autotag]Javontae Jean-Baptiste[/autotag] returning the ball 60 yards to the house?

Jean-Baptiste is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds. That’s all you need to know about the improbability of this play. There surely are many moments Jean-Baptiste will remember when his Irish career is over, but this one has to be near if not at the top of the list. One simply has to love when a defensive lineman gets a moment to shine with the ball.

As one might have guessed, social media was ablaze with this moment. You don’t see this happen every football game, so it deserves to be celebrated once it’s seen: