Washington Commanders
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Daily Slop – 28 Aug 25 – Commanders add Colts’ 2023 5th round pick, CB Darius Rush, to practice squad
Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/daily-slo...h-round-pick-cb-darius-rush-to-practice-squad
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Washington Post (paywall)
As the Commanders set their roster, an undrafted rookie had a ‘surreal’ day
Ale Kaho, a free agent linebacker, made the 53-man roster without receiving the dreaded cut call.
As Tuesday afternoon bled into evening, Ale Kaho learned a truism about the NFL’s hardest day. “When you don’t get a phone call,” Kaho said, “that’s better than getting a phone call.”
Barring a roster move between now and [the Week 1 game], Kaho will be there. In April, months after he’d played his final game for UCLA, he waited seven rounds without hearing his name. It hurt. “It definitely fueled a lot to the fire,” Kaho said. “It definitely made me take a step back and reevaluate myself as a person, as a player. What are my habits? How do I live?”
[H]e arrived for training camp as a largely anonymous rookie. He proved himself a sure tackler. He played fast and aggressive on special teams. He listened to everything veteran teammates Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu said. He led the Commanders with seven tackles in their final preseason game. Two days later, the Commanders never called to say they were cutting him.
The Athletic (paywall)
Terry McLaurin returns to Commanders’ practice after contract saga: ‘Like riding a bike’
After skipping minicamp and holding out for the start of training camp, he’s since been in the building to rehab and work on his conditioning, making only a few public appearances to sign autographs for fans or stand on the sideline in a hooded burgundy jacket, away from media.
On Wednesday, in a lighter and later team workout in flat pads and helmets, McLaurin was back in his No. 17 practice jersey, catching passes from Daniels and running alongside one of his newest teammates, receiver Deebo Samuel.
“I was telling Jayden, it’s like riding a bike,” McLaurin said. “Those things never run away from you, per se. And I wasn’t just doing nothing while this contract situation was going on.”
ESPN
Commanders embrace Terry McLaurin’s return to practice field
After the agreement was announced Monday, Peters said he heard a commotion coming from outside his office. It was from players celebrating with McLaurin, who said he was mobbed by about 30 teammates coming into the weight room to congratulate him.
“Throughout this entire process, that was the biggest gift that I probably got playing football,” McLaurin said. “That’s what the brotherhood is about. I hope that’s a reflection of the type of team player they feel I am.”
There was little doubt the Commanders were happy to have him back.
“It’s good to have his energy [back],” linebacker Bobby Wagner said.
“He’s so dynamic and such a great player,” center Tyler Biadasz added. “And as a leader of the group, it’s huge.”
Riggo’s Rag
Terry McLaurin was back at Commanders practice like nothing had ever happened
Peters gave agent Buddy Baker his chance to revel in the glory of McLaurin’s extension. However, the full details of the contract indicate that the general manager and the franchise got the best out of this particular transaction.
If Peters and McLaurin are happy, everyone should be. And it was no surprise to see the former third-round pick out of Ohio State show up to practice looking like a different player.
There was a smile on McLaurin’s face. He was his typically vibrant self. He was engaged with his teammates. And the most important thing of all? He was practicing.
Commanders.com
5 takeaways from Washington’s initial 53-man roster
5. It’s the most linebackers they have kept in years.
The Commanders’ linebacker depth had been light for several years prior to Quinn and Adam Peters taking over. Now, it’s one of the deepest positions on the roster.
Kaho is a member of a seven-player crew with two Hall of Famers leading it. Bobby Wagner is joined by Von Miller, the active leader in career sacks. Behind them is Frankie Luvu, who provided emotional leadership to the defense in addition to racking up eight sacks last season. Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee, who were drafted over the past two seasons, are the position’s future with the potential to have key roles this season. Medrano stood out in coverage, while Quinn called Magee “a hell of a competitor.”
The Commanders spent the offseason investing in ways for them to get more physical up front with more options to rush the passer. Most of that was focused on the defensive line, but part of that effort was also spent on making sure what ESPN’s Mike Clay called the best linebacker corps in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season could contribute to that as well.
Commanders.com
Commanders announce 5 jersey number changes
Here is the full list of jersey number changes:
- QB Marcus Mariota: No. 8
- T George Fant: 77
- TE Colson Yankoff: 80
- DT Javon Kinlaw: 99
- S Tyler Owens: 18
Podcasts & videos
Terry McLaurin Finally Feels ‘Genuinely Valued’ | First Words After New Commanders Deal
On location from Lost Rhino Brewing Company: All Ears with JP Finlay | NBC4 Washington
NFC East links
The Athletic (paywall)
How the 2025 post-Super Bowl Eagles are different than 2018 — and the lessons they learned
In August 2018, with Philadelphia still basking in the afterglow of its first Super Bowl victory, former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins bemoaned the Eagles’ locker room redecoration. During the offseason, the franchise added a “Super Bowl LII Champions” sign with the Lombardi Trophy in the back of the locker room. “I hate it, personally,” Jenkins declared. The leadership council met with coach Doug Pederson to have it removed.
Pederson’s intentions were noble — he called for Lombardi Trophies to be the “new normal” in Philadelphia and had T-shirts printed that read “Embrace the Target” — and he vowed to fight complacency. He spent the offseason wanting the Eagles to shift their mindsets so they could “rip off the dog masks and no longer be the underdog, but now be the hunted.”
It was a steady reminder: You’re the champions. That was why Jenkins thought the Eagles needed to move on. It would be difficult to avoid a Super Bowl hangover if you encounter a celebration every day.
[The Eagles] tried maximizing the championship window with an aging roster. They relied upon players coming off major injuries — most notably quarterback Carson Wentz. A late-season surge pushed the Eagles to the playoffs at 9-7. They won an opening-round game before a narrow defeat to New Orleans in the divisional round.
There would not be another postseason victory until the 2022 season — at which point the Eagles had a new coach, a new quarterback and significant roster turnover.
“It’s very simple: Every team has a one-year expiration,” Landon Dickerson said. “2024 Philadelphia Eagles were a great team. That team no longer exists. …It’s the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles. Right now, we’ve accomplishing nothing.”
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions
Brady will be able to remotely attend Fox’s production meetings with players and coaches this season, the league confirmed.
“Tom continues to be prohibited from going to a team facility for practices or production meetings,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to Front Office Sports. “He may attend production meetings remotely but may not attend in person at the team facility or hotel. He may also conduct an interview off site with a player like he did last year a couple times, including for the Super Bowl. We evaluated the policy after his first year and believed it was fine for him to participate remotely in a production meeting.”
In addition to being barred from team facilities, Brady’s ownership stake means he can’t criticize teams or officials and is subject to the NFL’s gambling and tampering policies.
A year ago, Brady’s situation raised eyebrows among league owners, who were skeptical of letting one of their peers into team facilities.
Brady and Kevin Burkhardt will call Giants-Commanders in Week 1 on Sept. 7 followed by a Super Bowl rematch in Week 2.
aBit o’Twitter
#Commanders have signed CB Darius Rush to the practice squad
This is Rush in 2023 at the Senior Bowlpic.twitter.com/S5HXvrEdxo
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) August 28, 2025BREAKING: South Carolina’s Darius Rush (@DariusJRush) has been voted American team’s CB Practice Player-of-Week by vote from his peers in American WR group.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILEpic.twitter.com/mqALurk8R6
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) February 3, 2023
Source: https://www.hogshaven.com/daily-slo...h-round-pick-cb-darius-rush-to-practice-squad