Davis, chosen 19th in the draft three years ago to be a middle linebacker, was moved to outside linebacker early in his career by the previous coaching staff led by Ron Rivera. The new team management, led by general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn, tried to revive Davis’s role by switching him to defensive end.
However, Davis was a healthy scratch a few times and played just under 21% of the defensive snaps this season, recording 13 tackles in five games. His release means that cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, the 16th overall pick in 2023, is now the only first-round pick remaining from the four drafts during Rivera’s tenure.
Washington is getting ready for the possibility of playing its next game on Sunday against Chicago without rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (rib injury) and left tackle Brandon Coleman (concussion protocol). Quinn said on Monday that he wasn’t concerned about needing to place players on injured reserve, and cutting Davis opens up a potential spot on the 53-man roster.
The NFL also announced that depth cornerback Kevon Seymour has been suspended for six games due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. Seymour, who is in his seventh season after playing for Buffalo, Carolina, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, has only been in uniform twice this season and made one tackle.
In other roster changes, the Commanders signed safety Ben Nikkel and receiver Michael Strachan to the practice squad and released safety Sheldrick Redwine from the practice squad.
