Commanders take action on players with Alabama roots
The Washington Commanders moved to keep former South Alabama standout Jeremy Reaves and released former Central-Phenix City star J.D. McKissic, the NFL team announced on Tuesday.
The Commanders made a qualifying offer to Reaves, which will make him a restricted free agent when the NFL’s 2022 business year ends at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday.
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Reaves has been with Washington for five seasons. But the safety has only three accrued seasons – six or more games on the active roster – allowing the Commanders to hold some control over the 2022 All-Pro special-teamer when his current contract expires on Wednesday.
Washington placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Reaves, which carries a salary of $2.627 million for the 2023 season if he returns to the team. As a restricted free agent, Reaves can negotiation with any NFL team until April 21. If Reaves gets a better contract offer, the Commanders have the option of matching it.
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Washington released McKissic with a failed-physical designation. A neck injury caused McKissic to miss the final nine games of the 2022 season. He had one season remaining on a two-year, $7 million contract signed last offseason.
A wide receiver at Arkansas State, McKissic transitioned to running back in the NFL, but his primary role has been as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. In 2020, his first season with Washington, McKissic set a franchise record with 80 receptions.
In 2022, McKissic had 95 yards on 22 rushing attempts and 173 yards on 27 receptions.
In 70 NFL regular-season games over seven seasons, McKissic has run for 1,074 yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries and caught 220 passes for 1,674 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.