One of the Commanders’ most underrated players is earning a deserved bigger role and it can make 2025 his biggest season yet

The Commanders’ defense could get a boost with this veteran’s increased role

Josh Taylor — Washington Commanders News Writer
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All eyes are on the Washington Commanders’ defense to be much improved this season, and they might get an extra boost from a team veteran with a bigger role this season.

We’ve heard about the new veteran and rookie additions to the defense, but one player has stood out at practice and made his presence felt in the first preseason game. Putting together an impressive summer is leading to safety Jeremy Reaves getting more snaps on defense.

Increased role means increased value

Reaves started the summer off strong with phase one of the offseason and then earned a much-deserved extension to stick around on the team through 2026.

The extension may have just lit a fire under the fan favorite Reaves, because he came into training camp with a purpose. Reaves has been getting playing time with the starters as he rotates into safety, and showed that he isn’t just a special-teams ace.

Last season, Reaves only played five snaps on defense in a new system under defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr, but he’s looking more comfortable already this offseason.

“I think the biggest thing for me is that the game has just slowed down so much for me,” Reaves told the media earlier this month. “Even from last year to this year, I was coming off a knee injury, and everything was just kind of going really fast. I was trying to prove myself to a new staff and a new front office. This year, I just came in with the confidence that all I have to do is be me, and at the end of the day, this is a game, and I get to come out here and have fun every day and compete.”

He’s been one of the best special-teams tacklers in the league as an All-Pro ace, but the team needs someone who can be versatile enough to play both sides. The Commanders rotate safeties and have many packages this season where they can move a lot of pieces around to keep offenses guessing and get the matchups they want.

We’ve only seen one preseason game so far, but Reaves was hands down one of the best defenders on the field for the Commanders, and he set the tone.

Making the most of his opportunities

The Commanders’ first preseason game against the New England Patriots ended up being a pretty disappointing showing, but Reaves shone with his opportunities on defense. Reaves finished as the Commanders’ highest graded defender on PFF with an 87.6 overall grade.

The energy on the field felt low until Reaves came out and flew around the field. One play that stood out was when he was lined up at safety in man coverage, and pulled the trigger to come downfield on a running back who got a short pass, and made the tackle in open space for only a 1-yard gain.

The Commanders’ defense has the most attention on it with Jayden Daniels and the offense being the strength of the team, but they can get an extra boost from a fired-up Jeremy Reaves in the secondary, who looks to be getting a deserved bigger role at safety.

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