Former Virginia Teach kicker Brian Johnson was surprisingly released Monday by the Washington Commanders.
Johnson, you will recall gained some very good experience in 2021, and especially came through with the pressure on him, when he was successful on his 48-yard field goal attempt with 37 seconds remaining, giving Washington a 17-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Johnson had actually been successful with New Orleans earlier in 2021, when he was perfect on all four field-goal attempts, including one from 52 yards. However, he was released and signed by the Bears to their practice squad, on November 23.
When Washington kicker Joey Slye pulled a hamstring against Seattle, Washington claimed Johnson off of the Bears practice squad on November 30.
With the NFL limiting the number of players each team can have on their roster to 90 players at this time of year, it stands to reason, the Commanders have a couple of position players they desire to sign.
Johnson’s release is unexpected. Kickers are quite vulnerable to injury while kicking, he has NFL experience, and there are still 90 days until the season opener.
Johnson being waived today means the Commanders, rather than having a prudent luxury of two experienced kickers through camp and the preseason, now only have Slye on the roster.
Further, not only was Slye injured against Seattle attempting to prevent a two-point Seahawk run back. Additionally, it was just last season when Washington experienced a very embarrassing kicking situation because they did not have a second kicker with NFL experience ready when Coach Ron Rivera determined it was time to release Dustin Hopkins.
In week 6, Washington led Kansas City 13-10 early in the third quarter. Hopkins missed from 42 yards, which would have widened Washington’s lead to 16-10. Washington proceeded to lose 31-13. Hopkins was released and signed by the Chargers, kicking in their final 11 regular season games.
Meanwhile, Washington had already signed Chris Blewitt to its practice squad two weeks earlier. Blewitt was elevated to the roster the same day Hopkins was released.
Speculation rose among those who follow Washington closely, because Blewitt had not been impressive in college at Pittsburgh, missing 8 field goals his junior season and 7 as a senior. Finishing at Pittsburgh in the 2016 season, Blewitt had not made an NFL roster any season. Why was Washington signing him in 2021?
When Blewitt struggled making only two of five field-goal attempts, in his two games, he was understandably waived November 9 with Slye being signed.
Why did the Commanders keep Johnson on the offseason roster this long only to cut him six weeks before training camp? Rivera and former coach Jay Gruden were criticized in the past at times for not bringing in competition for Hopkins during training camp.
Either Washington really likes Slye, or badly needed the roster spots — or both.