The Washington Commanders are making roster changes after two players opted out

When you have a good season, others notice. This also applies to the 3-1 Washington Commanders, who are alone in first place in the NFC East.

Other teams don't often sign players from Washington's practice squad, but that's exactly what happened this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed guard Max Scharping from the Commanders' practice squad to their roster. Scharping initially signed a contract with Washington on August 28th.

That wasn't the only player who left the Commanders' training group. Linebacker Jalen Graham, also signed in August, was added to the San Francisco 49ers' 53-man roster. The 49ers released Graham during their recent roster cuts, and Washington GM Adam Peters, who was in San Francisco when the 49ers drafted Graham in 2023, quickly added him to the practice squad.

The Commanders announced two practice squad signings to replace Scharping and Graham: offensive lineman Marquis Hayes and safety Sheldrick Redwine.

Hayes, 25, played college at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 when Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was head coach.

Redwine has ties to Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and spent time with Washington this summer before being fired during final cuts.