The Commanders made six cuts this afternoon as they trim their roster down to 53 players.
Headlining the group is veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup, who signed with the Commanders in March to attempt an NFL comeback. He started 67 games for the Cowboys from 2018 to 2023, but struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and retired last summer.
Gallup’s return to the league came with some fanfare given his past production in Dallas. He averaged 819 yards per year across his first three seasons – including a thousand-yard campaign in 2019 – and still eclipsed 400 yards in his next three years despite a variety of injuries. He was unable to recapture his previous form in Washington, catching only four of his 10 preseason targets for 40 yards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). As a vested veteran, he is free to sign with any other team.
In addition to Gallup, the following players were cut, per a team announcement.
- CB Essang Bassey
- C Nick Harris
- T Tyre Phillips
- DT Norell Pollard
- WR Braylon Sanders
Harris, a 2020 fifth-round pick, served as the Browns’ backup center for two years on either side of a season-ending knee injury in 2022. He was unable to beat out seven-year veteran Michael Deiter for the same role in Washington this summer. Phillips has started 28 games across his five-year career for the Ravens and the Giants, primarily at right tackle. Similarly to Harris, the Commanders’ offensive line depth kept him firmly outside of the 53-man roster picture.
However, both have enough experience to attract interest from a team that needs offensive line help – perhaps one that has lost several players to injury, like the Saints.
Bassey, Harris, and Phillips are all vested veterans who will become free agents right away. Pollard and Sanders are former UDFAs who will be subject to waivers.