Which players will earn a roster spot and which players will never play again for the Commanders?
It’s understandable to a fan base that the third (final) preseason game means little to nothing. Fans are mostly enduring the preseason, waiting for the regular season to begin.
Yet, for players wearing Burgundy and Gold, knowing that next week the roster is cut down to 53, this game means so much. The Commanders will not only cut down to 53, but they will then turn around over the next two or three days and add an additional 16 players to their practice squad. Yes, perhaps 45 spots have already been won. Yet, the coaches are looking to see who earns those final eight roster spots. For young players who haven’t made a roster, Saturday could be the day coaches see enough to decide to let them get their foot in the NFL door by making a practice squad.
Speaking of which, Logan Paulsen, former NFL tight end for the Washington Redskins said recently on a “Take Command” podcast episode, “I remember my rookie year thinking, ‘If I make the practice squad, man, that would be pretty special.'”
Paulsen then told of how he and his son were watching “Hard Knocks” this week, and his son said, “That guy is not very good.” Paulsen said he instantly replied, “Let me tell you something, bud, everybody you see on this screen is the best football player you have ever seen.”
It’s so true. The average fan likewise has no idea. In an earlier job, I was the beat writer for the Detroit Tigers’ Class A minor league team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers. During basketball season, I was also the beat writer for the NBA Orlando Magic’s G League team, the Lakeland Magic. Those guys were all talented and working hard every day, playing their guts out every game. The Flying Tigers were laboring to get promoted to Class AA in the Tigers organization with a dream of one day making Major League Baseball. At the same time, the Magic were working for that opportunity to earn a spot on an NBA roster.
Paulsen was laughing, saying, “No, son, we don’t say they are no good in this house, because your dad was watching people’s eyes for a long time.” Indeed he was, undrafted out of UCLA he worked each training camp, with the fearful intensity, understanding it could very well be his last.
His position of most concern? Paulsen clearly feels that receiver is the position with the most questions. He doesn’t feel guys have stepped up to claim a roster spot other than rookie Jaylin Lane. Paulsen is still waiting for a couple of guys to step up and say, “I am the guy.”
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders’ final preseason game is huge for some players