Editor’s note: This was published just a couple of hours before the Commanders confirmed the signing of Preston Smith. You can read about that here.
The Washington Commanders are reeling from the loss of defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. to a season-ending injury. General manager Adam Peters is not one to sit on his hands, and a notable development before preparations for Week 3 begin indicates more moves could be coming.
Having so many troubling injuries this early in the campaign is far from ideal. In addition to Wise, running back Austin Ekeler is also out for the year. Noah Brown and John Bates will likely miss this weekend’s test against the Las Vegas Raiders, and superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels’ status is also in question after sustaining a sprained knee on Thursday Night Football.
Peters made several transactions in recent days. He’s left the defensive edges alone for now, which indicates a level of confidence in those around to fill the void. However, that doesn’t mean the front office leader is going to settle by any stretch of the imagination.
Commanders work out Preston Smith as search for Deatrich Wise Jr. replacement continues
According to the NFL’s transaction wire, the Commanders worked out Preston Smith on Tuesday. There was no deal confirmed in the immediate aftermath, but it shows that Washington is turning over every stone in pursuit of finding the right fit.
Smith is no stranger to Washington. He was the team’s second-round pick in 2015, spending four seasons with the organization en route to 24.5 sacks, 59 quarterback hits, and 168 tackles. A prolific stint with the Green Bay Packers followed, before the Pittsburgh Steelers secured his services via trade before the 2024 deadline.
He didn’t do enough for another deal in Pittsburgh and has been seeking a new opportunity all summer. It didn’t cost the Commanders anything to find out if Smith still has some juice left. But given their preference for veteran reinforcements, it’s all the more surprising that Peters didn’t go after Jadeveon Clowney.
It would have been a like-for-like replacement. Clowney is an outstanding run defender who flashes as a pass-rusher. Unfortunately for the Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys had already reached an agreement with the former South Carolina standout.
Something might come from Smith’s workout, but it might not. He’s almost 33 years old with a lot of tread on the tires. The Mississippi State product also missed the entire summer, which suggests it might take time to get into genuine football shape.
Time is something the Commanders don’t have right now. They need someone who can hit the ground running. Things are sitting precariously, so Peters and head coach Dan Quinn need to find solutions, and quickly, to compensate for Wise’s absence.
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