Tag: LB Jordan Magee

Logan Paulsen grades Commanders 2024 draft class

The former Washington TE analyzes each of the Commanders’ rookies.

Logan Paulsen is always a good listen, and he did not disappoint grading the Commanders’ rookie class.

Paulsen and Craig Hoffman broke down the 2024 class in an episode of their “Take Command” podcast this week.

For now, Commanders Wire will provide selected summary statements by Paulsen. Here is the episode in full. 

  • Jayden Daniels (Rd 1, 2)   “The number one thing for me was his consistency…The amount of work each week to get back to that pinnacle…for him to come back each and every week and trust the process was impressive.”
  • Jer’Zhan Newton (Rd 2, 36)  “At times he was physically outmatched…I am excited to see him in year two with a full offseason…I do think you see the work ethic, the physical play.”
  • Mike Sainristil (Rd 2, 50)  “What Sainristil did this year can’t be overstated…The flexibility he brought to the defense…he embodies what it means to be a Commander…he’s a special football player.”
  • Ben Sinnott (Rd 2, 53) “You see the athlete, the physicality, the want-to…he is not the underneath route running winner that Zach Ertz is…at times he had a lack of awareness in the run game.”
  • Brandon Coleman (Rd 3, 67)  “He probably exceeded expectations playing tackle…he has moved from guard to tackle at TCU…he’s a good athlete…He is for sure a starting NFL offensive lineman.”
  • Luke McCaffrey (Rd 3, 100)  “He is not yet a great separator; only played receiver two years previously…he competes, he’s tough…he’s a bigger body guy…what is his role next year?”
  • Jordan Magee (Rd 5, 139)  “He’s got that competitive dog…was injured in preseason then again in season…I’m excited for him to get healthy and play…
  • Dominique Hampton (Rd 5, 161)  “was learning a new position, being converted from safety down to linebacker…might not ever play in the NFL..
  • Javontae Jean-Baptiste (Rd 7, 222)  “like his length, play strength…for a 7th round pick to be in the mix for playing time next year that is a good thing…he’s a nice find (at 222).
  • Tyler Owens (UFA) “A special teams maniac…that may be how he makes his NFL money”
  • Colson Yankoff (UFA) “Another maniac, fast, big, strong…really covered kicks well… Yankoff and Owens have roles for next year”

 

 

Commanders make 4 roster moves ahead of playoff game vs Lions

Commanders make roster moves ahead of playoff game vs. Lions.

In preparation for Saturday night’s NFC divisional round playoff game in Detroit, the Washington Commanders have made four roster moves.

The Commanders have placed LB Jordan Magee on the injured reserve list. They have also activated TE Colson Yankoff off of the injured reserve list. Thirdly, the Commanders have elevated two defensive players, DE Andre Jones Jr. and CB Kevon Seymour, from the practice squad.

Seymour was activated last week as well and played, as the Commanders determined to leave CB Michael Davis as inactive against the Bucs. So, reason says, that will likely occur again against the Lions tonight.

Jones may be coming up to take the place of Magee on special teams. It is a move that makes sense, seeing the Commanders in recent weeks lost both Magee and S Tyler Owens on their coverage units for punts and kickoffs.

The Commanders had recently opened the window for Yankoff to practice with the team. Yankoff excelled in the preseason on both punt and kickoff coverage units. Also, TE Ben Sinnott was injured and left the game last week against the Bucs. So it could be the Commanders have determined Sinnott is not going to be fully healthy, and therefore, they are going with Yankoff against the Lions.

Quinn offers injury updates on several important Commanders ahead of playoffs

Dan Quinn gave an update on several injured Commanders.

Several Washington Commanders are trending upward for the team’s playoff game in Tampa on Sunday.

On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn proclaimed the good news in dialog with the media.

“[C Tyler] Biadasz is doing good, coming back next on that,” Quinn said. “[CB] Marshon [Lattimore] was also doing well, ran today, so arrow was going up. [LB Jordan] Magee, I’m just kind of reframing some of the guys that missed last week’s game that we were hoping trending up. Same with [T] Cornelius Lucas.

Quinn is hopeful these players are on the practice field when the team begins preparation for the Buccaneers’ prime-time game.

When asked about an injury concern regarding Jayden Daniels, Quinn responded:

“I’m not concerned. I’m feeling good going into the weekend. I’m actually feeling good on the team’s health, so that’s a good thing when you get to this time of year.”

Offensive tackle Brandon Coleman went down in the game but did return to action against the Cowboys.

“Brandon is doing well. He had a good session today to get rolling,” he said. “So, as we’re going into it, I really think from a team health standpoint, we’ll have a better sense for Wednesday, but going into today and the meetings and our runs and rehab runs, all of that was a positive day for us.

When asked about kicker Austin Seibert, Quinn responded that there were no updates on Seibert, adding, “But we were certainly pleased with what we saw from [K] Zane [Gonzalez].”

Commanders-Falcons inactives: Who’s in, who’s out for Week 17

Which players are in for the Commanders in Week 17? Who is out? The Week 17 inactive list is here.

The Washington Commanders, in preparation for their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Northwest Stadium Sunday, released their final list of inactive players ahead of kickoff. Seven Commanders will be unavailable for tonight’s game:

  • Marshon Lattimore– is rehabbing that nagging hamstring he reinjured against the Eagles last week. Lattimore has been limited to playing in nine of the 16 games in 2024.
  • Andrew Wylie– injured his groin against the Eagles. Wylie has appeared in 13 of the 16 games this season. Cornelius Lucas will start in his place.
  • Dyami Brown–strained a hamstring against the Eagles. This is the first game Brown has missed in 2024. Can the Commanders find enough receivers to stretch the Falcons defense?
  • Jordan Magee– injured a hamstring. Injured in the preseason, Magee has appeared in eight games thus far in 2024.
  • Tyler Owens– has an ankle injury. He has been good for the Commanders on kick and punt coverage teams this year. Owens has played in 12 games this season.
  • Jeff Driskel– will be the emergency third quarterback against the Falcons. Driskel has appeared in one game in 2024.
  • Dominique Hampton–is the only draft choice who has yet to play in a game during the 2024 season. Maybe next week for Hampton.

Atlanta Falcons Inactives:

  • RB Carlos Washington
  • CB Kevin King
  • DL Brandon Dorlus
  • OL Elijah Wilkinson
  • OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
  • OT Brandon Parker
  • WR Casey Washington

Commanders will be shorthanded against Falcons in Week 17

Multiple players out means others must step up. Could this mean the debut of K.J. Osborn for the Commanders?

The Washington Commanders are looking to clinch their first playoff appearance since the 2020 anomaly season, but they will be short-handed against the Falcons.

The Commanders (10-5) will be without five players for Sunday night’s home game against the Falcons (8-7), which will be broadcast nationally.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is no surprise to be out for the Falcons game. He has already missed games against the Eagles, Cowboys, and Titans. Then, following another week (bye), he played against the Saints and was injured again last week against the Eagles. Dan Quinn confirmed Friday that the same injury was recurring again for Lattimore.

Emmanuel Forbes, a first-round 2023 Ron Rivera draft pick, has already been released this season and picked up by the Rams. So, the Commanders will need Benjamin St-Juste and/or Mike Davis to step up and play admirably on Sunday.

Washington also ruled out RT Andrew Wylie, WR Dyami Brown, LB Jordan Magee and S Tyler Owens. Swing tackle Cornelius Lucas will most likely replace Wylie. Brown’s absence could result in K.J. Osborn being activated for the first time.

During his weekly Friday press conference, Quinn initially chose not to rule out the quartet of players and would meet later in the day with Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters before making any of these declarations official.

Washington can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Falcons or a Buccaneers loss to the Panthers on Sunday. They last made the playoffs in 2020, though they were not a winning team, finishing 7-9 in a horrible year for the NFC East teams.

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 bring back one from injured reserve

Commanders make some roster moves, including bringing back a player from IR.

The Washington Commanders made some roster moves on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns. The biggest move on Saturday was the Commanders bringing back Marcus Mariota.

Mariota was placed on the injured reserve list and missed the first four games due to two injuries he suffered in training camp. First, he tweaked a groin muscle, but then he suddenly missed a practice due to a pectoral injury and was placed on the IR list.

Also announced Saturday afternoon were two elevations from the Practice Squad: CB Kevon Seymour and WR Brycen Tremayne from the practice squad.

Tremayne’s elevation at this time is not a surprise. WR Noah Brown injured his groin and could not practice, and Dan Quinn declared him “out.” In addition, Jamison Crowder, with his injured calf, was placed on the injured reserve list this week, meaning Crowder will miss four games. Thus, the Commanders needed to elevate a receiver.

Seymour is perhaps being elevated because it appears that safety Tyler Owens will most likely not play against the Browns for now. He has an injured shin and has missed practice, and the Commanders may, therefore, activate safety Darrick Forrest, who has been inactive the first four games.

There has been growing hope that defensive end Efe Obada and rookie linebacker Jordan Magee will return from the injured list to the active roster. But it appears that those two players will have to wait another week.

One final question for this week. With the Commanders activating Mariota, will they keep four quarterbacks on their roster (including Sam Hartman)? Or will they make another roster move involving Hartman?

Quinn anxious for Commanders’ injured players to return, play at home

Dan Quinn optimistic about some injured players returning soon.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn is hoping to get some new players out on the field.

Quinn began his Wednesday presser with the local media, saying some injured players—backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, and defensive end Efe Obada—are now ready to begin the 21-day return-to-play window.

However, it was just the opposite news for wide receiver/returner Jamison Crowder (calf), who is headed to the injured reserve list. This means Crowder will be out for at least four weeks.

Quinn also said in his introductory comments that with three of the first four games on the road, he and the team are excited and looking forward to “coming home and hopefully creating a home-field advantage. It’s as fun as you could possibly imagine when a stadium’s going crazy for the team. And so, we’re certainly wanting to capture that.”

Mariota had a strange preseason. He only played a series in the preseason opener against the Jets and did not play again in the final two preseason games. His first injury was a groin injury, and then a chest injury which landed him on IR, missing the first four games. Jeff Driskel is currently the number two quarterback.

Magee, a fifth-round draft choice out of Temple, injured his knee (meniscus) in the first preseason game, requiring a procedure, and has missed the first games.

Obada suffered two fractures in a leg in the home game against the Giants in November of 2023.

The players can practice with the team for 21 days before a decision is made about adding them back to the 53-man roster.

When Quinn was asked about whether any of the players were ready to return to the active roster soon, Quinn responded, “We really have to wait. These guys have been out for a while, and so that’s why you have the extended time to get them ready to play. And so that’s where we will go into, and each one will be its own individual case, too.”

Quinn expressed how he is looking forward to playing at home on Sunday.
“It’s a huge advantage for the team because as loud as it can get and silent cadences and all that goes with that, it’s just an absolute blast. The energy goes through the roof. So, that’s what we’ll dig for and keep battling for it, and the better that we can play, the more we can create that together, and then it becomes, man, this is a really hard place to play when you tie all of the of the things together.”

Several reasons Commanders opening week is exciting

Why fans should be excited about Sunday and the 2024 season.

Who are the 2024 Washington Commanders?

Who knows?

Seriously, nobody knows. This season is unique in the sense that there are so many unknowns. It raises our curiosity, anticipation, and excitement.

  1. There’s a new sheriff in town: Adam Peters. This was Peters’ first offseason, and now, it is the beginning of his first season as an NFL general manager. He is not inexperienced, however. He has been working like crazy, making all sorts of signings, and he’s shown he’s not afraid to make unexpected trades. I just now counted 30 new players to the Commanders roster this year!
  2. When Dan Quinn was hired, much displeasure was voiced and posted on social media. That didn’t take long to change, however. Quinn is personable, direct, has a sense of humor, and has been full of energy every time he has been called upon. The players like him and respect him, and the fan base has quickly changed their minds. There is excitement in the air, and Quinn is a major reason.
  3. Jayden Daniels is only a rookie, but in his two brief (very) preseason appearances, he was decisive and accurate. There was much excitement before Robert Griffin’s debut in 2012, and rightly so. But doesn’t Daniels appear more prepared and poised? How many times will Daniels run a zone-read option Sunday against the Bucs? How will he handle the defensive pressure of a good, defensive playoff team last year?

https://twitter.com/granthpaulsen/status/1822329867376947482

Oh, there are more reasons why the DMV is excited about this 2024 team. Here are some other reasons there’s such anticipation.

The 2023 team was horrible. They lost their final eight games and four games last season by 34, 20, 12, 35, 30, 17, and 28 points! That’s four games by 28 or more points! One reason there is such optimism is that Ron Rivera’s final team lowered the bar so much. If this team is competitive throughout the season, it will be progress.

The team made it through the preseason with no major injuries. Yes, Jordan Magee is going to miss a few games. Yes, Brandon Coleman and Johnny Newton did not play in the preseason. But Coleman will be back for the opener, and Newton is trending to play soon.

Linebacker play was a weakness the last four years despite the fact that Rivera and Jack Del Rio were good linebackers themselves in the NFL. But Peters has brought in Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. On paper, that looks tremendously better. How much does Wagner have remaining in his body? It’s another unknown; he is 34. Yet, he did lead the NFL with 183 tackles (96 solo, 87 assisted) in 2023.

There are unknowns and question marks. But one thing is certain: there has not been this much excitement for a season opener since 2012.

Three Commanders rookies working through injuries

Injury updates on three Washington rookies.

Brandon Coleman, Jordan Magee and Johnny Newton are three Commanders draft choices currently dealing with injuries.

Magee, drafted 139th overall in the fifth round out of Temple, had moved well in training camp before suffering an injured meniscus against the Jets in the first preseason game.

Head coach Dan Quinn said during Monday’s press conference that Magee’s knee required a procedure. The procedure has already been performed, and Magee will subsequently be out for a while. However, Quinn quickly clarified that Magee’s meniscus injury is not season-ending.

Newton surprised everyone when he was still available for the Commanders at No. 36 overall. Though they already had defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, Adam Peters felt Newton should not be passed up, so they grabbed him.

Newton, however, required foot surgery soon afterward to repair a Jones fracture. The surgery was said to be successful, and Newton has returned to individual workouts.

Coleman, an offensive tackle from TCU, was selected in round three (67th overall). Coleman pleased coaches in training camp until Quinn last week said he suffered a “strain in his shoulder and his pec.”

Monday, regarding both Newton and Coleman, Quinn said, “So far, you are going to see those guys work individual. It would have to be towards the end of the week if they would get any team reps.”

“Brandon’s a little bit further along than Johnny, but not by tons. Both of them I see on the way up. As far as getting them to the game, I’ll have a better sense for that as we get to the end of the week. You’ll see Brandon this week really ramping up the contact and that kind of stuff.”

“You will see more running with Johnny. So, those are two guys that are on the arrow up, but I don’t have an official game timeline for them yet.”

“There’s next week’s practices (following game vs Patriots), and the following week. I think I’ll have a better assessment once I go through a few days with him (Coleman) this week and see if we have a realistic shot for him to play Sunday night or not. He is certainly trending in that way. We’re just going to use all the caution we can with him and Johnny to make sure there’s no setbacks.”