Commanders quietly hand undrafted underdog his moment to shock everyone

"With the Washington Commanders playing for nothing much other than pride over their final seven games of the campaign, the coaching staff needs to try new things. Adam Peters also needs to assess what he has on the roster before a crucial offseason, and throwing his fledgling stars into the fire is the best way to do so. The Commanders are dealing with serious injury problems, no more so than in the wide receiver room."

"Jones went undrafted out of UCF, and the Commanders moved swiftly to scoop him up. He flashed promise throughout preparations for the new campaign, especially in the red zone. Most thought that fellow undrafted standout Ja'Corey Brooks was further ahead, but Washington's decision-makers held a different opinion. At 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds, Jones has the size and physical scope to be a potential problem for opposing defenses if given the chance."

"The Commanders might prefer to go with experience, especially in their current slump. But it wouldn't hurt to add some extra spark, urgency, and dynamism that the Miami Dolphins won't see coming in Week 11. Time is of the essence for Jones. McLaurin and Brown are expected back soon. The Commanders will need to make room for the latter on the squad."

Washington faces a low-stakes finish to the season and must use remaining games to experiment and evaluate roster pieces. Adam Peters needs clearer assessments of young players before a pivotal offseason, making game reps for promising prospects essential. Injuries have ravaged the wide receiver room, with Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and Treylon Burks all limited or sidelined. Washington elevated veterans Robbie Chosen and undrafted rookie Jacoby Jones from the practice squad. Jones showed promise in camp and offers size and red-zone potential. Immediate performance in practice and games will determine roster spots as veterans return.

Read at Riggo's Rag