The Commanders released veteran safety Will Harris Tuesday, reshaping the safety room ahead of the regular season. Here's a look at where each safety stands heading into Washington's final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Washington Commanders made a significant move to their roster Tuesday, releasing veteran safety Will Harris. His time in Washington ultimately never lived up to expectations.
The Commanders signed Harris to a two-year, $8 million deal in 2025 after an impressive 2024 season with the New Orleans Saints, where he recorded a career-high five pass breakups, one interception and 74 total tackles.
Harris was limited to just nine games in his first season with Washington after suffering a fractured fibula. He returned this offseason to a much more crowded safety room, with the Commanders adding former Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross to the mix.
Since his injury, the odds have increasingly been stacked against Harris. With Washington entering a new defensive era under Daronte Jones and other safeties making stronger impressions throughout the preseason, the competition for playing time only became tougher.
Quan Martin has recorded an interception in both of Washington's preseason games. While Martin struggled last season, his strong preseason production has put him in a good position to secure a roster spot. Even head coach Dan Quinn is taking notice.
"To see Quan really express himself over the last two games and a number of practices, you can feel his comfort level in the system coming together," Quinn said Monday.
“It’s not surprising to see him putting the work in and seeing the rewards from that."
Tyler Owens has also emerged as another safety making a strong case for a roster spot this preseason. In Saturday's loss against the Detroit Lions, he showed off his athleticism by bursting into the backfield on a blitz and nearly recording a sack. Owens brings added value on special teams, making him a more versatile option for the Commanders.
Jeremy Reaves is all but a lock to make the team. He recorded 91 total tackles and seven pass breakups in 2025, both career highs. While special teams has been his primary role throughout his seven seasons in Washington, his continued development on defense has earned him a larger role in the secondary.
The safeties on the fringe of the roster will have another opportunity to make their case in the Commanders' preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens. Percy Butler and Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. are among those competing. Butler recorded three total tackles against the Lions last week, with only one solo tackle, while Knight Sr. finished with four total tackles and two solo tackles. While it's only one preseason game, small details like tackling production can help separate players when the coaching staff evaluates the entire roster.
Butler, a 2022 fourth-round pick by the Commanders, has significantly more experience in Washington's defense than Knight Sr. That experience could give him an edge, but general manager Adam Peters has made it clear that the team is always looking to improve the roster. If Knight Sr. continues to outperform Butler, he could make a push for a roster spot.
The Commanders also signed safeties Joshuah Bledsoe and Quindell Johnson after releasing Will Harris and safety Malik Spencer. Bledsoe and Johnson are unlikely to make the initial 53-man roster, but they provide Washington with additional depth heading into the Ravens game. If either player performs well, they could make a case for a spot on the practice squad.
For now, with the question about how many ultimately make the 53-man roster ahead of roster cuts, Washington has enough intriguing pieces who offer upside to cement what could be a versatile backline under coordinator Daronte Jones.
