On an off day, Commanders release two, sign two

The Commanders move on from former draft pick, Dax Milne.

It wasn’t an off day for Dan Quinn and Adam Peters, as on Wednesday, the Commanders signed two players and released two players.

After working out three consecutive days (Sunday through Tuesday) Quinn had given the players Wednesday off from training camp, with practices resuming Thursday.

However, Quinn and Peters continued staying busy Wednesday, when they made four moves to the 90-man roster.

Released were wide receivers Dax Milne and Damiere Byrd. Added to the 90-man roster were WR Byron Pringle and kicker Riley Patterson.

Milne was drafted by Ron Rivera in round 7 (258) of the 2021 draft out of Brigham Young.

Milne secured the last receiver roster spot in 2021 and 2022, catching 15 passes for 120 yards, one touchdown, and six first downs. In his two seasons he also returned 40 punts with a long return of 19 yards. He also returned 15 kickoffs and enjoyed a 33-yard return.

A groin injury in the 2023 preseason led to Milne’s missing all of last season. Milne became the first player who had been drafted during the Ron Rivera term (2020-23) to be released by Dan Quinn.

Following playing at South Carolina, Byrd went undrafted in 2015 and was signed soon thereafter by the Panthers. Byrd made the Panthers practice squad and then the active roster for three seasons (2016-18).

Next, Byrd played one season for the Cardinals (2019), Patriots (2020), and Bears (2021), his best season coming with the Patriots, when he accumulated 47 receptions for 604 yards. Byrd then spent the last two seasons with the Falcons before signing with the Commanders on May 16.

Pringle returns to the Commanders after catching 14 passes for 161 yards with Washington in 2023. Previously, Pringle was with the Chiefs (2019-21) and the Bears in 2022. His best production came in 2021 when he collected 42 receptions for 568 yards, 5 touchdowns and 32 first downs.

Patterson had been waived earlier in the week by the Jaguars. Patterson kicked seven games for the Lions in 2021 and all of 2022 with the Jaguars. He split time with the Lions and Browns in 2023.

Brandon McManus had been signed to a one-year deal, but once allegations arose of sexual assault by McManus on a Jaguars team flight during the 2023 season, the Commanders released him.