Tag: QB Sam Hartman

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?

Commanders’ inactive list vs. Cardinals

The inactives are in for the Commanders and Cardinals.

Only 46 players are declared “active ” on the 53-man rosters each week, while the remaining are declared inactive.

Here are the inactive players for the Commanders and Cardinals today in Arizona for the 4:05 scheduled game.

COMMANDERS

  • QB Sam Hartman (emergency third quarterback): Naturally, Hartman will be inactive each week unless there is another quarterback injury.
  • S Darrick Forrest: This is the fourth consecutive week Forrest has been inactive; however, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. publicly praised Forrest as a person and a player this week. He is certainly not in a proverbial doghouse.
  • RB Austin Ekeler: After a concussion in the Week 3 game in Cincinnati, Ekeler went through the NFL protocol this week.
  • LB Dominique Hampton: The rookie out of the U of Washington, is again “inactive” his fourth consecutive week.
  • G Chris Paul: Paul appeared in 11 NFL games prior to 2024 but has been inactive all four games this season.
  • WR Jamison Crowder: The former Duke receiver/returner has been active for the games against the Bucs and Bengals but inactive against the Giants and Cardinals.
  • DE Clelin Ferrell  The Richmond native has a knee injury that has him inactive the last two games (Bengals, Cardinals) after being active the first two games (Bucs and Giants).

CARDINALS

  • TE Trey McBride
  • DL Khyiris Tonga
  • S Darren Hall
  • LB Jesse Luketa
  • OL Jon Gaines II
  • WR Xavier Weaver
  • DL Naquan Jones

Who are the Inactives for the Commanders vs the Bengals?

Each NFL team must list seven players inactive, allowing only 46 to be active during regular season games.

NFL teams rosters are 53 men; however, only 46 are active each game.

Here are the inactives for tonight’s Week 3 contest between the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals.

COMMANDERS

  • CB Emmanuel Forbes
  • QB Sam Hartman
  • S Darrick Forrest
  • TE Colson Yankoff
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • G Chris Paul
  • DE Clelin Ferrell

Dan Quinn mentioned Saturday that Emmanuel Forbes, recovering from thumb surgery, might return for Week 4.

Sam Hartman, barring injury, will most likely be inactive for all 17 games this season.

Darrick Forrest has yet to play in 2024, being inactive in all three games.

This is the first game Colson Yankoff is being listed as inactive.

This is the third consecutive game Hampton is an inactive player.

Chris Paul has been inactive for all three games in 2024.

This is the first game Clelin Ferrell is inactive (knee injury).

BENGALS

  • WR Trenton Irwin
  • G Jaxson Kirkland
  • TE Tanner McLachlan
  • TE Tanner Hudson
  • DT Sheldon Rankins
  • DT B.J. Hill

2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at quarterback?

Previewing the quarterback position for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Jayden Daniels called an audible, overruling the play (screen), which had come in from the sidelines.

It was his first third down in the first series of his first preseason game. He instead called for an empty backfield with all five receivers running a vertical route. Daniels then looked the safety off to the left side of the field, eliminating his help against Dyami Brown. Daniels then fired deep to Brown for a 42-yard gain.

On a third-and-long against the Dolphins, Daniels simply took what the defense gave him. He took the check down, gained good yardage, and made the field goal attempt much closer. The Commanders have to be thrilled with Daniels’ progress thus far.

Of course, there will be struggles; he is a rookie. His extremely lean frame will continue to be a concern. With his quickness and speed, Kliff Kingsbury will want to run some zone-read options each game. Therefore, Daniels will need to get down and avoid hits often.

Marcus Mariota has been one Daniels says he is leaning on heavily. Coaches have said he has accepted his role very well and is supportive of Daniels. Mariota has walked in Daniels’ shoes. He is good to have in Daniels’ ear each day and each game.

On the other hand, Mariota is now dealing with his second injury of the preseason. First, it was a groin, now a chest injury. The plan was that Mariota would be the only other quarterback on the roster, but what little action he saw wasn’t good, and with another injury, one can’t help but wonder if the Commanders might actually have Mariota “inactive” for the opener.

Which leads to Jeff Driskel. Driskel received many more snaps in the preseason and produced several nice plays. As a result, the decision was made to keep Driskel on the roster as the third quarterback. If Mariota is not ready for the opener, they will be glad Driskel is available.

Sam Hartman injured a shoulder in the first preseason game against the Jets and did not see action in the final two preseason games. He was waived, then brought back and signed to the practice squad.

Quinn: Commanders ‘have a really cool quarterback room here’

Dan Quinn and Adam Peters discussed keeping three quarterbacks and one on the practice squad.

Did the NFLPA’s decision to decline the option to have the emergency quarterback come off the practice squad lead the Commanders to keep three quarterbacks on their initial roster?

That was a question posed Wednesday to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn during their press conference. On Tuesday, the team announced its initial 53-man roster, which included quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Jeff Driskel.

Peters began by expressing, “not a lot.” “We thought Jeff did a really good job throughout. He got better and better throughout the offseason and training camp. We thought when we were making those (roster) decisions that Jeff earned a spot on the 53.”

Peters acknowledged the two spots were already determined to be Daniels and Mariota, but that Driskel “went and took it (roster spot). I am proud of him and the way he played; he earned it.”

Quinn quickly jumped in, elaborating further, “It’s a really cool quarterback room here. The coaching, their connection together and to see these four guys working together and in support of all that goes into it. It was by design that we were going to be heavy into that space from a coaching point of view. To see that transfer into the players and the belief in them, it’s been all we hoped it would be.”

The fourth was rookie Sam Hartman out of Notre Dame (and Wake Forest). Hartman was brought back and signed to the practice squad.

With Daniels being a rookie, the coaches could think that keeping another veteran around like Driskel in addition to Mariota gives Daniels another player with years of experience preparing in work weeks throughout an NFL season.

In addition, keeping Hartman means the Commanders have an extra veteran in Driskel for knowledge and playing if necessary. They also have Hartman, whom they can keep in hopes that he will develop toward competing for a roster spot next year.

Commanders’ Marcus Mariota injured, out for Saturday’s game

Marcus Mariota and Sam Hartman are out Saturday.

Injuries happen every season, but you certainly cringe when your second quarterback goes down.

That’s the situation for the Commanders as Dan Quinn announced backup quarterback Marcus Mariota won’t be playing Saturday against the Dolphins.

Mariota apparently has an injured groin, and the coaches aren’t comfortable asking him to play in Saturday’s second preseason game. Rather than risking further injury, Quinn has determined it best to rest Mariota on Saturday, keeping him out of the action and preventing him from further injury.

QB Sam Hartman (shoulder) was injured last week vs. the Jets and is also unable to play against the Dolphins. Quinn has yet to make clear how much starter Jayden Daniels will play. But Mariota’s injury most likely means Jeff Driskel will see the most action, with Trace McSorley finishing the game.

The former Oregon Duck quarterback spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans (2015-19), before moving westward to the Raiders (2020-21), Falcons (2022) and Eagles (2023).

Quinn has praised Mariota for his attitude and approach to this season. There had been some friction in Atlanta, with Mariota not finishing the season well with the Falcons (2022).

However, two seasons later, Mariota, according to Quinn has accepted his role as a supportive, veteran leader of the team in general, and the quarterback room and Jayden Daniels in particular.

Like Daniels, Mariota was drafted second overall in the NFL Draft (2015). Consequently, he understands the pressure of being the franchise quarterback, expected to rescue the team from the depths of the NFL. Therefore, Mariota could be a huge help psychologically, encouraging and mentoring Daniels.

 

Commanders sign Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

The Commanders are bringing in former Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman.

The Commanders, still looking for players to fill their 90-man roster, have signed Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman.

Consequently, Hartman went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, which concluded a few hours ago. Now, NFL teams are signing the players they would like to bring into their off-season program.

The signing of Hartman brings the Commanders’ quarterback room to five: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel, Jake Fromm, and Hartman.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 208 pounds, Hartman committed to and signed with Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference. As a freshman, Hartman saw action in nine games, completing 161 of 291 passes (55.3) for 1,984 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, and a 125.2 passer rating.

After playing only four games in the 2019 season, Hartman completed 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,224 yards in 2020 with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 138.7 passer rating.

Hartman enjoyed largely productive seasons in 2021 and 2022, when he passed for 39 and 38 touchdowns with 14 and 12 interceptions, respectively. He also had his highest passer rating numbers of 148.6 and then 159.4.

Due to Covid altering the 2020 NCAA Football season, Hartman having one more year of eligibility, determined to transfer to Notre Dame. For the Fighting Irish, Hartman completed 63.5 percent of his 301 passes for 2,689 yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 159.5 passer rating.

Born in Charlotte, NC, he will turn 25 in July. He played his High School ball at Oceanside Collegiate in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and became a three-star college quarterback recruit.