The Washington Commanders have pulled the trigger on multiple roster decisions, including a pair of safeties
Ahead of the 53-man roster deadline and with preseason officially over, the Washington Commanders have started their roster cuts as we dive into the names to know.
OLB Boogie Basham
With improved depth and after filling out reps with both Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson sidelined, Basham's time in Washington ends. Like Bledsoe, Basham was signed by the team earlier in the week where the Va. native looked latch on in the NFL. Basham was productive with the DC Defenders in the UFL where he registered 24 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in his lone season in the league. Basham previously appeared in 43 total games across during stints with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Carolina Panthers during his five year NFL career.
Safety Joshuah Bledsoe
The 27 year old safety was signed by the team earlier in the week as he looks to catch on elsewhere. A former sixth round pick out of Missouri in 2021, Bledsoe began his career with the New England Patriots but was placed on the active/ non-football injury list as a rookie. He then appeared in four games across the next two seasons, totaling one assisted tackle, before then suiting up for the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL in 2024. Bledsoe spent time with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans last offseason before being waived ahead of the regular season.
OLB DJ Johnson
After being among the batch of players to ink a reserve/futures contract back in January, Johnson will not stick around in Washington. Johnson spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Panthers where he appeared in 31 total games, totaling 62 tackles, a pair of pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
Safety Qwauntrezz Knight
Whether he stays with the Commanders as a practice squad addition is the next question mark as the front office sifts through the roster moves made around the league, but for now, Knight's lone season in Washington comes to an end.
It marks the latest chapter after going undrafted following the 2022 NFL Draft. Knight began his career with the San Francisco 49ers where he spent the first two seasons before moving on to the Arizona Cardinals midway through the 2023 season before shifting to the UFL after signing with the Birmingham Stallions for the 2024 season. He then inked with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League in 2025 after he was suspended for three games by the NFL, while Knight signed a futures contract with the Commanders back in January.
WR Nick Nash
For the second consecutive offseason and first time in Washington, Nash has been waived as part of the final round of roster cuts. His 55 yard catch in the week two loss against Detroit proved to be the highlight of the preseason for the San Jose St. product as he waits to see whether he makes the practice squad.
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
Despite the focus in the attention, the former Tennessee Titan tackle won't stick around in Washington. Petit-Frere had an opportunity to showcase his value as tackle depth, but he struggled mightily through preseason and faced an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.
