So, I went to the Commanders’ roster Tuesday evening.
After all, the Commanders’ first preseason game is less than one month away when Washington travels to play the Jets on August 10 at 12 p.m.
Training camp begins for the rookies this week, and all the veterans are to report by July 24.
As I was looking through the roster, I noticed the Commanders have still yet to assign a jersey number to their longest-tenured player: punter Tress Way.
Way, as you know, has worn No. 5 his entire time in Washington. The former Oklahoma Sooner went undrafted in 2013. A few days following the draft, the Chicago Bears signed Way. However, the Bears released Way during the preseason. Re-signed at the conclusion of the 2013 season, Way competed and was again released during the preseason in August.
This time, the very next day, the Redskins claimed Way. He came, worked out, and was given No. 5. That was 2014, and Way proceeded to play all ten of his NFL seasons in Washington without missing a single game. He has, therefore, played all 162 of his NFL games wearing the same No. 5
Shortly after drafting quarterback Jayden Daniels (2024), Way chose to give his No. 5 over to the rookie, permitting Daniels to continue to wear it as he did at LSU.
During the spring workouts, Way was spotted on the practice field wearing the same No.10 as former UCLA Bruin receiver/returner Kazmeir Allen. It is worth noting that all other players on the 90-man roster have been assigned a number.
Way has twice led the NFL in average yards per punt during the season. In his first NFL season (2014), Way averaged 47.5 yards for each punt. Then, in 2019, Way again led the NFL with a 49.6-yard average.
