Will Harris released by the Commanders on Tuesday, ending his one season in Washington after losing the safety competition in camp. The move comes just days before Washington’s roster must shrink to 53 players.
A Rough Path to the Exit
Harris signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Washington in March 2025 and opened last season as a starter. A fractured fibula in Week 2 sent him to injured reserve until Week 13, and he finished the year with 38 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble across nine starts.
This offseason, the Commanders’ secondary got more crowded. Free agent signee Nick Cross, along with veterans Jeremy Reaves and Quan Martin, all worked ahead of Harris throughout camp.
His final moment in a Commanders uniform didn’t help his case. Harris bit hard on a fake handoff during Saturday’s preseason loss to Detroit, letting quarterback Josh Dobbs scamper 50 yards untouched for a touchdown.
Head coach Dan Quinn addressed the play directly afterward. “To have it be a touchdown was certainly disappointing,” he said.
More Moves Around Him
Harris wasn’t the only Commanders safety cut Tuesday. Washington also released Malik Spencer in a corresponding move. The team added three players in the same transaction, signing outside linebacker Boogie Basham and safeties Joshuah Bledsoe and Quindell Johnson. Washington also placed outside linebacker Drake Jackson on injured reserve.
Teammate Amik Robertson kept his reaction to Harris’ release simple.
“It’s tough,” he said.
What It Means for the Commanders Secondary
Harris’ release may close the book on a 2026 camp battle that drew interest from the start. Washington let starting safety Jeremy Chinn leave in free agency for Las Vegas last year, opting to build its Commanders safety room around Harris instead.
That bet never fully paid off. Cutting him now, ahead of Sunday’s roster deadline, gives him a chance to catch on elsewhere before final cuts sweep across the league.
Washington closes out its preseason slate Friday at Baltimore, with an increasingly settled safety room behind Cross, Reaves, and Martin.
Apparently free agent signee Stefon Diggs already grabbed Harris’ number 3 jersey.
Tackle Transacation
The Commanders also reportedly signed left tackle DJ Humphries to a one-year deal.
Washington appeared content to have Brandon Coleman step in when Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps, so does this mean that Coleman isn’t a lock? Or is this just a precautionary move?
Humphries made a Pro Bowl back in 2021, and has appeared in 108 games, but started just once in 2025 with the Rams. He started twice for the Chiefs in 2024.
The new recruit will presumably battle with Trent Scott and Andrew Wylie for a spot.
Washington released OT Foster Sarell to coincide with the signing.