In a few days, on Tuesday, August 27, NFL teams must reduce their roster from 90 to a maximum of 53 players before 4:00 p.m ET.
That is a lot of decisions that need to be made from the end of Washington’s Sunday night home game against the Patriots until Tuesday by 4 p.m.
Dan Quinn led an energetic training camp that ended Friday. “I am pleased as we’re heading out of camp,” Quinn told the press.
However, what looms ahead is not allowing Quinn to relax or enjoy the fact that the team has just completed his first Washington Commanders training camp.
“The way we look at it is that it’s a 70-man roster… it’s always a hard conversation for the ballplayer, whether a veteran or a rookie.” By 70, Quinn refers to the 53-man roster and then the 17-man practice squad that teams can construct after each released player has an opportunity to sign with another club.
“There’s a lot (that keeps me up at night)… a lot of that has to do with what’s to come…” Quinn spoke of getting to know the person, not merely the player, making it even harder when it comes to the cut-down days.
“It’s a hard conversation walking into that room because you’re not coming with good news,” Quinn spoke of talking with some players, telling them what they would need to see if the player makes it back to them on the Practice Squad.
In addition, Quinn offered, “If a player’s not coming back, I try to give him some things to work on in case he has another opportunity elsewhere.”