Y’all might have been listening for the past two weeks that the Washington Commanders are not the same compared to their 2024 season, right? The team has by far won only one game in the past two weeks, but a lot has yet to be seen as far as the Commanders’ potential in the NFC and NFL is concerned. And with the latest roster move, the Commanders have indirectly sent a strong message to the 31 opponent teams to be on their toes as their former star defensive player has taken a flight to land in DC.
The Washington Commanders signed DE Preston Smith
In their latest roster move update on Wednesday, the Commanders announced, “We have made the following roster moves.” They added that the club has “signed DE Preston Smith,” while “Placing CB Jonathan Jones on the Reserve/Injured List.” Yes, the Commanders are reuniting with a player who first made his name in their colors. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team is set to bring back veteran edge defender Preston Smith.
Smith, a versatile 6-foot-5, 265-pound pass rusher, returns to Washington at 32 years old after nearly a decade of NFL experience. Originally selected by the franchise as the 38th pick in the second round of the 2015 draft, he has carved out a starting role. After getting drafted, Smith played four years with the team.
Importantly, he has appeared in all 64 games across his first four seasons and started 50, which is quite a strong point on his resume. During those four years from 2015 to 2018, Smith produced 167 total tackles, out of which 107 were solo tackles. Apart from helping the team with tackles, he made 29 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks, along with four interceptions and five forced fumbles, per his player profile on ESPN. But after playing four years, the Green Bay Packers signed him in 2019.
Preston Smith’s comeback to Washington after six years
In 2018, Preston Smith ended his four-year, $5,779,354 contract with the Commanders, but within no time the Green Bay Packers acquired him on a four-year, $52,000,000 deal. And after ending his contract with the Packers in 2022, he again put pen to paper to sign a contract extension worth $52 million, spanning four years through 2026. That means the contract ended before it officially expired. But in those five and a half years with the Packers (played half a year with the Steelers), he never let his guards down.
From 2019 to 2024, Smith made 262 total tackles, out of which 162 were solo tackles and 44 sacks after playing 91 games. But in 2024, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of the season after playing nine games with the Packers. Smith spent his remaining season with Russell Wilson’s 2024 team, where he played eight games and made 13 tackles and two sacks.
So, after hitting free agency in 2024, his former team called him for a good reason. No doubt he will add depth to the defensive unit as the Washington Commanders have faced a cornerback setback with the inclusion of Jonathan Jones on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 17.
The Commander Hit with Defensive Setback After Jonathan Jones’ Injury
The Washington Commanders have placed cornerback Jonathan Jones on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s loss to the Packers. The move guaranteed that the star CB would miss at least the next four games. The next four games will be against the Raiders, Falcons, Chargers, and the Bears. But, unfortunately, the Commanders fans would have to miss the star defender.
Jones, who signed with Washington in March after a nine-year run with the Patriots, saw limited action over the first two weeks. Nonetheless, Jones finished with one tackle while logging 22 snaps on defense and another 21 on special teams. In his absence, the Commanders will move forward with Trey Amos, Marshon Lattimore, rookie Mike Sainristil, and Noah Igbinoghene in their cornerback rotation.
Now, the real deal to watch Commanders’ defense will be how head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr are going to use the talent of other CBs in the absence of Jonathan Jones and use Preston Smith where needed.