The Washington Commanders had to deal with an unexpected problem which led to the release of a hopeful player
The Commanders granted the release of an unhappy Darnell Savage.
The Washington Commanders’ season hasn’t gone as planned for anybody with a 3-9 record, and they are looking to end the year on a high note.
Injuries and a struggling defense have been major factors in the Commanders’ losing season, and both could be improving finally. Players are coming back from injuries just in time to build momentum, but that has also taken away playing time for some other guys.
After a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos, the Commanders had a new problem to worry about, with one hopeful player asking for a release from the team.
The Commanders released safety Darnell Savage after his request
The Commanders finally got safety Will Harris back from injury since he fractured his fibula in Week 3, and that led to a tough decision on defense. Head coach Dan Quinn decided to make Darnell Savage a healthy scratch against the Broncos, which he didn’t like too much, as expected. After being out on Sunday, Savage asked for his release from the team, which they have granted.
Savage filled in for Harris and did a solid job as a new addition who didn’t get an offseason to learn the defense. There were a lot of high hopes for Savage, but it didn’t work out in the end. The entire secondary has struggled this season with Harris out, and it was surprising to see Savage as an inactive, even with Harris’ return.
The week before, Quinn drastically reduced Quan Martin’s snaps, but decided to give him more playing time. It seems like Quinn isn’t ready to give up on Martin yet, and he’s possibly just leaning more on youth and the guys they drafted.
The Commanders need Quan Martin to improve
Quinn is putting his betting chips all in on Martin for the rest of the season, and now it’s up to him to prove that it was the right call. Savage was at least servicable, better in coverage, and still just 28 years old. He played his best game against the Miami Dolphins, and looked to be taking Martin’s spot, but that changed drastically just the next week.
The Commanders will still look to improve the safety room this offseason with players like Caleb Downs available, but having Martin as a solid rotational piece that could even line up closer to the line would be beneficial. The final five games are a test for a lot of young players on the roster, and Martin is high on that list after a disappointing season.
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