The Washington Commanders are looking for big-body wide receivers? The team had two options for visits on Tuesday. Could Ron Rivera be looking for special teams help, or a practice squad body to help its rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes?
According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the Commanders worked out Dezmon Patmon and held a visit with former Maryland Terrapins star wideout Dontay Demus Jr.
Patmon is listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. Demus is 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds.
The Commanders don’t have a wide receiver taller than 6-foot-1, and neither of its top-four wideouts is taller than 6 feet.
Dontay Demus Jr. was projected to be a first-round pick before knee injury in college
Patmon, 25, was a sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. He played ten games over three years with Indianapolis. The Buffalo Bills waived him during the preseason this year. Then, he spent one week with the Carolina Panthers before getting released on Sept. 12.
Demus, 23, is a local kid. He starred in high school at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C., before having a stellar start at the University of Maryland.
Demus was projected to be a first-round pick, entering his senior season with the Terrapins. Unfortunately, he suffered a gruesome season-ending knee injury against Iowa that seemingly altered the trajectory of his pro career.
After returning for a fifth year at Maryland in 2022, Demus went undrafted in this year’s draft. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens but got waived during the final cuts. He spent some time on the Ravens’ practice squad before getting released on Oct. 3.
Are the Commanders looking at wide receivers to help Emmanuel Forbes progress?
The Commanders are set at the top of the depth chart at wide receiver with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson, and Dyami Brown.
Patmon and Demus are likely special team candidates. Washington has had to reshuffle its special teams, losing captain Jeremy Reaves to a knee injury that could be season-ending.
More intriguingly, they could be practice squad bodies who will help the team’s defensive backs defend bigger wide receivers. The undersized rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes comes to mind foremost.
Forbes’s slender frame has been a knock for him coming out of the NFL Draft. This season, Forbes has struggled against the likes of A.J. Brown, D.J. Moore, and Courtland Sutton, all of whom have wider frames.
Forbes’s struggles led to his benching in last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears. He’s a first-round pick. The team is invested in his long-term success. Signing a big-body wide receiver to the practice squad to get him accustomed to the size around the league is a chess move by the staff.
Commanders need a big frame WR to aid the passing game
Regardless of the motives, having a big wide receiver who can grab a few of Sam Howell’s jump balls would be an added accessory.
Washington’s wide receivers have struggled with separation through five games. Demus or Patmon could negate the lack of spacing on the field by snatching a few tough catches over defenders.
It will be interesting to see if the Commanders take a flyer on Patmon, Demus, or any other big-body pass catcher. Any signing will have to contribute on special teams, but offensive coordinator Eric Bieneimy could use a bigger wideout on a handful of snaps
