Were Commanders sending a message to wide receivers ahead of preseason finale?
The Commanders kept six receivers inactive for preseason finale. Two notable names were active. What does that mean?
The Washington Commanders announced that 41 players would be inactive for their preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday. This is not uncommon in the NFL, with teams using the final preseason game to decide roster spots and depth chart positions. Among the six wide receivers who were inactive, two names stood out: Luke McCaffrey, a 2024 third-round pick, and Van Jefferson, a veteran signed in March.
McCaffrey, who had been the Commanders' primary kickoff returner last season, had a solid training camp but ended it on a high note with 11 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Jefferson, on the other hand, was a relatively unknown quantity heading into the preseason. The Commanders had been in a bit of a dilemma, as they had signed Diggs early in training camp, forcing them to make cuts in the wide receiver room.
With other question marks on the offensive line due to injuries, keeping an extra receiver might not have been the best decision. The Commanders' performance against the Ravens was a reflection of their overall struggles, with a final score of 41-3. McCaffrey and Jefferson both had one catch for 17 yards each, but both also had drops.
McCaffrey's performance has left many questions about his future with the team. The Commanders had until Sunday at 6 p.m. ET to trim their roster from 90 players to 53. Did Washington know they were keeping six receivers going into the game, or was GM Adam Peters simply showcasing McCaffrey for a potential trade?
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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