The Washington Commanders met the NFL’s deadline to trim rosters to 85 players on Tuesday by releasing two players and placing two more on injured reserve.
Washington’s roster stood at 86 players but received an exemption for defensive lineman David Bada, a member of the International Player Pathway Program.
However, the Commanders weren’t done making moves and released defensive back Troy Apke on Tuesday afternoon.
Releasing Apke doesn’t come as a surprise as he remained on Washington’s roster last season to exclusively play special teams. He did not play one snap on defense last season, despite a slew of injuries in the secondary.
Head coach Ron Rivera often praised Apke for his ability on special teams. Still, with Cam Sims, rookie Percy Butler and others on the roster who offer more versatility, Apke’s position became tenuous.
Apke was a fourth-round pick in 2018 out of Penn State. He was known for his blazing speed, but he struggled when he received opportunities on defense. In four seasons with Washington, Apke appeared in 50 games, making a combined nine starts at safety in 2019 and 2020.
We have also released CB Troy Apke https://t.co/GkE4ozgHby
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 16, 2022
