Tag: NFL cutdown date

Commanders release defensive back Troy Apke

Troy Apke was a fourth-round pick by Washington in 2018.

The Washington Commanders met the NFL’s deadline to trim rosters to 85 players on Tuesday by releasing two players and placing two more on injured reserve.

Washington’s roster stood at 86 players but received an exemption for defensive lineman David Bada, a member of the International Player Pathway Program.

However, the Commanders weren’t done making moves and released defensive back Troy Apke on Tuesday afternoon.

Releasing Apke doesn’t come as a surprise as he remained on Washington’s roster last season to exclusively play special teams. He did not play one snap on defense last season, despite a slew of injuries in the secondary.

Head coach Ron Rivera often praised Apke for his ability on special teams. Still, with Cam Sims, rookie Percy Butler and others on the roster who offer more versatility, Apke’s position became tenuous.

Apke was a fourth-round pick in 2018 out of Penn State. He was known for his blazing speed, but he struggled when he received opportunities on defense. In four seasons with Washington, Apke appeared in 50 games, making a combined nine starts at safety in 2019 and 2020.

Predicting Commanders’ first 5 cuts ahead of Tuesday’s deadline

The Commanders have to trim their roster to 85 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. These 5 players could be their first cuts of the summer.

The first preseason game is in the books, and that means it’s decision time for all 32 NFL teams. Per the NFL rules, every team must cut five players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to trim their roster from 90 players down to 85.

The Washington Commanders opened the preseason with a 23-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Several young Commanders made their NFL debuts in the loss, including rookie quarterback Sam Howell, who almost led Washington to a comeback win.

With multiple injuries in training camp, there will be tough decisions to make for head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew.

Here are five players we predict the Commanders to release ahead of the first cut deadline.