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2023 Washington Commanders Preview
Yet another quarterback era begins in Washington, as Sam Howell now looks to be the answer under center. An 8-8-1 finish last season, powered by a better-than-expected defense, certainly leaves some room for improvement in 2023. Total white players and starters are a push from last year.
Total White players on 53-man roster: 15
Total White starters: 5
Starters listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Sam Howell
TE: John Bates
WR: Dax Milne
C: Nick Gates, Tyler Larsen
G: Sam Cosmi, Ricky Stromberg
T: Andrew Wylie
DEFENSE
DT: John Ridgeway III
DE: Casey Toohill
LB: Cody Barton, David Mayo
SPECIALISTS
K: Joey Slye
P: Tress Way
LS: Camaron Cheeseman
RESERVE/INJURED
CB: Troy Apke
TE: Kaden Smith
PRACTICE SQUAD
OL: Mason Brooks
QB: Jake Fromm
2023's Washington squad reads very similarly to last season's both in personnel and their distribution on the roster. Sam Howell was the last man standing among the quarterbacks last year, after Washington tried and subsequently discarded both the mercurial Carson Wentz and dependable vet Taylor Heinicke. Howell's the starter to begin the season, though with the ubiquitous Jacoby Brissett lurking behind him, the DWFs and Ron Rivera are likely to give Howell a short leash for success, which is a shame; he is the career record holder in both passing yards (10,283) and passing TDs (92) at North Carolina. He also rushed for over 800 yards in his junior season, so hopefully he can blossom in the NFL into the same kind of dual-threat player he was in college before the hounds start baying for the dreary Brissett.
The offensive line has been reshuffled and turned over in the offseason as well. Third year man Sam Cosmi kicks inside to guard (having played at tackle in 2022) and has seemingly taken to the change. Andrew Wylie turned in some stellar years protecting Pat Mahomes in Kansas City, and brings his skills to Washington fresh off a Super Bowl win. Former New York Giants backup Nick Gates takes over as a starter at center in D.C. Larsen is solid depth as an eight-year veteran, and is joined in reserve by the rookie Stromberg.
Dax Milne paced the league with 40 punt returns last year and also caught his first NFL touchdown, but that's about where the good news ends for the former BYU star. The wide receiver is still confusingly not a meaningful part of the Washington offense, as he has amassed only 21 targets thus far in his career. Hoping a coaching staff involves Milne more in the offense is on it's way to becoming a yearly tradition (though we're not holding our breath). Boise State's John Bates is a backup tight end used primarily as a blocker.
DT John Ridgeway was claimed off of waivers from Dallas last year, and acquitted himself well down the stretch for the Commanders. He's joined in the defensive line rotation by Casey Toohill, primarily a stand-up edge rusher. Two white defensive linemen may be close to a hilarious high water mark among NFL teams, so "credit" to Washington for that, at least. Out is dependable middle linebacker and tackle machine Cole Holcomb, and in his place for 2023 is dependable middle linebacker and tackle machine Cody Barton. After being stuck on special teams duty in Seattle for three years, Barton was finally permitted to start eleven games in 2022, and unsurprisingly responded with 84 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed and two sacks. With a starting gig all locked up for 2023, be on the lookout for top-tier numbers from Barton. Nine year veteran David Mayo continues to make his living in the NFL on special teams and as a dependable, quality backup.
Troy Apke continues to languish in injury/practice quad purgatory in Washington. His positional change to cornerback from safety a couple years ago generated some mild enthusiasm around these parts, but he has scarcely seen the field since. Apke has only periodically resurfaced on special teams, so the change seems strictly administrative. The Commanders' practice squad is pretty thin gruel, with only a reserve lineman in Brooks and former Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm. Fromm will likely be dressed on gameday thanks to the new QB3 rule, courtesy of the disastrous events of the NFC Championship game last year.
Yet another quarterback era begins in Washington, as Sam Howell now looks to be the answer under center. An 8-8-1 finish last season, powered by a better-than-expected defense, certainly leaves some room for improvement in 2023. Total white players and starters are a push from last year.
Total White players on 53-man roster: 15
Total White starters: 5
Starters listed in bold.
OFFENSE
QB: Sam Howell
TE: John Bates
WR: Dax Milne
C: Nick Gates, Tyler Larsen
G: Sam Cosmi, Ricky Stromberg
T: Andrew Wylie
DEFENSE
DT: John Ridgeway III
DE: Casey Toohill
LB: Cody Barton, David Mayo
SPECIALISTS
K: Joey Slye
P: Tress Way
LS: Camaron Cheeseman
RESERVE/INJURED
CB: Troy Apke
TE: Kaden Smith
PRACTICE SQUAD
OL: Mason Brooks
QB: Jake Fromm
2023's Washington squad reads very similarly to last season's both in personnel and their distribution on the roster. Sam Howell was the last man standing among the quarterbacks last year, after Washington tried and subsequently discarded both the mercurial Carson Wentz and dependable vet Taylor Heinicke. Howell's the starter to begin the season, though with the ubiquitous Jacoby Brissett lurking behind him, the DWFs and Ron Rivera are likely to give Howell a short leash for success, which is a shame; he is the career record holder in both passing yards (10,283) and passing TDs (92) at North Carolina. He also rushed for over 800 yards in his junior season, so hopefully he can blossom in the NFL into the same kind of dual-threat player he was in college before the hounds start baying for the dreary Brissett.
The offensive line has been reshuffled and turned over in the offseason as well. Third year man Sam Cosmi kicks inside to guard (having played at tackle in 2022) and has seemingly taken to the change. Andrew Wylie turned in some stellar years protecting Pat Mahomes in Kansas City, and brings his skills to Washington fresh off a Super Bowl win. Former New York Giants backup Nick Gates takes over as a starter at center in D.C. Larsen is solid depth as an eight-year veteran, and is joined in reserve by the rookie Stromberg.
Dax Milne paced the league with 40 punt returns last year and also caught his first NFL touchdown, but that's about where the good news ends for the former BYU star. The wide receiver is still confusingly not a meaningful part of the Washington offense, as he has amassed only 21 targets thus far in his career. Hoping a coaching staff involves Milne more in the offense is on it's way to becoming a yearly tradition (though we're not holding our breath). Boise State's John Bates is a backup tight end used primarily as a blocker.
DT John Ridgeway was claimed off of waivers from Dallas last year, and acquitted himself well down the stretch for the Commanders. He's joined in the defensive line rotation by Casey Toohill, primarily a stand-up edge rusher. Two white defensive linemen may be close to a hilarious high water mark among NFL teams, so "credit" to Washington for that, at least. Out is dependable middle linebacker and tackle machine Cole Holcomb, and in his place for 2023 is dependable middle linebacker and tackle machine Cody Barton. After being stuck on special teams duty in Seattle for three years, Barton was finally permitted to start eleven games in 2022, and unsurprisingly responded with 84 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed and two sacks. With a starting gig all locked up for 2023, be on the lookout for top-tier numbers from Barton. Nine year veteran David Mayo continues to make his living in the NFL on special teams and as a dependable, quality backup.
Troy Apke continues to languish in injury/practice quad purgatory in Washington. His positional change to cornerback from safety a couple years ago generated some mild enthusiasm around these parts, but he has scarcely seen the field since. Apke has only periodically resurfaced on special teams, so the change seems strictly administrative. The Commanders' practice squad is pretty thin gruel, with only a reserve lineman in Brooks and former Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jake Fromm. Fromm will likely be dressed on gameday thanks to the new QB3 rule, courtesy of the disastrous events of the NFC Championship game last year.
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