Commanders release Emmanuel Forbes, place Austin Ekeler on IR in flurry of roster moves

1 December 2024Last Update :
Commanders release Emmanuel Forbes, place Austin Ekeler on IR in flurry of roster moves

The horror show of recent first-round selections by the Washington Commanders not named Jayden Daniels is over.

On Saturday, Washington released cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the 16th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Forbes is the third first-round selection released or traded by the new Commanders’ staff since August, meaning none of the six first-rounders from 2019 to 2023 remain with the team.

The NFC wild-card contenders also placed running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve. The eight-year veteran suffered his second concussion this season in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Ekeler must miss at least four games.

During Washington’s busy transactional week, the team ruled out Ekeler and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie (concussion) and listed cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) as “doubtful” against the Tennessee Titans. The Commanders (7-5) look to snap a season-high three-game losing streak and maintain their hold on the third and final wild-card spot with a win over the Titans (3-8).

With general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn in charge, the Commanders traded struggling 2022 first-round wide receiver Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles for a package including a 2025 third-round pick. Washington released 2021 first-round defensive Jamin Davis in October after a transition from linebacker did not take. Minnesota signed Davis off Green Bay’s practice squad this week. Rivera’s staff traded first-round edge rusher Montez Sweat (2019) and Chase Young (2020) last season and released quarterback Dwayne Haskins (2019) during the 2020 season.

Forbes’ career cratered almost immediately. Washington sought more playmaking in the secondary following the 2022 season. That led to the selection of the Mississippi State standout, who set the FBS record with six of his 14 career interceptions returned for touchdowns. The Commanders chose the 166-pound Forbes over cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a higher-profile draft prospect who slid outside the top 10.

After a promising training camp, Forbes was torched by opposing wide receivers, headlined by Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown in Week 4 and the Chicago Bears’ passing attack the following week. Washington kept Forbes on the bench the following game and played him sporadically over the remaining games.

Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. gave Forbes opportunities this summer and at the start of the season, but he quickly lost his rotation spot. Forbes started Week 1, missed two games with a thumb injury and then played more than six snaps only twice in the next nine games.

Over two seasons, Forbes played in 20 of 29 games — seven starts — with two interceptions and 45 tackles. Unless claimed on waivers, his release accelerates remaining cash totals and prorated signing bonuses, leaving dead cap charges in 2024 ($8.503 million) and 2025 ($4.103) and nothing on the books in 2026.

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Second-round rookie Mike Sainristil, 2024 free agent Noah Igbinoghene, four-year starter Benjamin St-Juste and veteran Mike Davis form the rotation until Lattimore is cleared. Despite an upgrade to “limited” practice participation this week, Lattimore likely misses his fifth consecutive game — fourth with Washington since acquired at the trade deadline before Week 10 — with a lingering hamstring injury. Forbes’ release has no barring on Lattimore’s availability.

Ekeler is the bigger hit for this season. Following an injury-plagued campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers, he signed a free-agent contract this offseason and answered lingering concerns over his remaining capabilities. The shifty dual-threat back ranks third for Washington in rushing yards (355), yards per attempt (4.8) and receptions (33).

However, Ekeler missed one game after a concussion in a Monday night win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 and has now suffered his unofficial fourth concussion in his NFL career. With Washington on bye following Sunday’s game against the Titans, Ekeler is not eligible to return until the Commanders’ Week 18 game at Dallas but could be available for the postseason.

Lead back Brian Robinson is cleared to play after a first-quarter ankle injury limited him to five carries against Dallas. Jeremy McNichols, the new pass-catching lead, and Chris Rodriguez are the backups against the league’s defensive leader on third-down percentage.

Of Washington’s 51 players drafted from 2018 to 2023, only 13 are active on the 53-player roster. That includes the only two remaining members of the 2023 seven-player class — second-round safety Quan Martin and Rodriguez, who the Commanders have released and re-signed multiple times this season.

The Commanders elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez on Saturday after placing Austin Seibert (groin, hip) on injured reserve earlier this week. Gonzalez made all three field goal attempts in two games with Seibert sidelined. Seibert returned last week but missed three kicks, including a potential game-tying extra point with 21 seconds remaining. Washington also promoted defensive lineman Nate Davis from the practice squad.

Required reading

  • Commanders mailbag: Marshon Lattimore returns to practice. Now what?
  • What to make of Kliff Kingsbury and the Commanders’ recent offensive regression
  • NFL Week 13 picks against the spread: Stay warm and pick the relaxing sides on Thanksgiving

(Photo of Emmanuel Forbes: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)