It’s always a stage of the NFL offseason that general managers, coaches, and players dread. The Washington Commanders were no different as they trimmed their roster from 90 to the required 53 before the deadline.
This came after a strenuous summer of OTAs, mandatory minicamp, training camp, and preseason contests. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn had some easy choices to make, but there were also some difficult conversations that no doubt left hopefuls feeling aggrieved.
The journey wasn’t over for those who made the practice squad. That’s one consolation at an uncertain time, but Peters did what he believed was right for the franchise as they look to put the pieces in place for another deep postseason run in 2025.
The Commanders brought a few surprises through, which was deserved for their exceptional commitment. Peters could make more changes if the right opportunities present themselves. However, there also seems to be a level of comfort with the current dynamic with Week 1 against the New York Giants on the immediate horizon.
It’ll be interesting to see if the choices bear fruit. Until then, here are four winners and three losers from the Commanders’ 53-man roster cut-down.
Winners and losers from Commanders’ 53-man roster cut-down
Winner No. 1
Ale Kaho – Commanders LB
While the Washington Commanders spent a sixth-round selection on Kain Medrano, it was his teammate at UCLA who plays the same position that emerged as one of the summer’s most heart-warming stories. And for Ale Kaho, a strong preseason was enough to find his name on the 53-man roster.
Kaho’s physicality and energy immediately caught the eye. The athletic second-level presence looks like he belongs, adapting well to the schematic concepts and capitalizing on every opportunity that came his way to book his place on the squad.
Shining in training camp is one thing. Doing so in a typical game-day setting is far more telling. Kaho managed to accomplish this feat during Washington’s warmup slate, displaying explosiveness on the defensive rotation and dynamic special-teams prowess for good measure.
Like Medrano, Kaho had the benefit of familiarity. He worked with linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. on the Bruins, which smoothed his transition. Whether this comes with any activations in the regular season remains to be seen, but forcing his way onto the team was the absolute ceiling before Washington’s offseason program began.
Settling is not an option, but Kaho can look back on his accomplishments with pride.
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