The Washington Commanders final preseason game is on Sunday night against the New England Patriots. Cut-down day is two days later.

This has been a fun training camp to monitor as there has been plenty of competition and new faces for this staff to evaluate. The areas I have been watching most this preseason have been wide receiver, offensive line, cornerback and safety.

As the offseason comes to an end, and the start of the regular season approaches, there still remains a few spots that are up for grabs. I have to imagine that Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have a pretty good idea of what the beef of this 53-man roster is going to look like, but questions still remain – who will claim WR6 (if they do indeed opt to keep six), whether they keep nine or ten offensive linemen, if three tight ends will be adequate, who will get the final two cornerback spots and will they opt for five or six safeties.

Below is my 53-man roster prediction. I do believe we’ll see more movement after teams cut down their rosters, so I expect this to remain pretty fluid until the end of next week.

Offense: 24

Quarterback:

Jayden Daniels

Marcus Mariota

Running Back:

Brian Robinson

Austin Ekeler

Michael Wiley

Wide Receiver:

Terry Mclaurin

Dyami Brown

Olamide Zaccheaus

Luke McCaffrey

Jamison Crowder

Brycen Tremayne

Tight End:

Zach Ertz

John Bates

Ben Sinnott

Offensive Line:

Brandon Coleman (LT)

Nick Allegretti (LG)

Tyler Biadasz (C)

Sam Cosmi (RG)

Andrew Wylie (RT)

Cornelius Lucas (T)

Chris Paul (T/G)

Braeden Daniels (T/G)

Ricky Stromberg (G/C)

Michael Deiter (G/G)

Defense: 26

Defensive Tackle:

Jonathan Allen

Daron Payne

Jer’Zhan Newton

John Ridgeway

Phidarian Mathis

EDGE:

Dorance Armstrong

Clelin Ferrell

Dante Fowler Jr

K.J. Henry

Jamin Davis

Linebacker:

Bobby Wagner

Frankie Luvu

Jordan Magee

Anthony Pittman

Dominique Hampton

Cornerback:

Emmanuel Forbes

Benjamine St-Juste

Michael Davis

Mike Sainristil

Noah Igbinoghene

Tariq Castro-Fields

Safety:

Quan Martin

Jeremy Chinn

Darrick Forrest

Percy Butler

Tyler Owens

Special Teams:

Cade York (K)

Tress Way (P)

Tyler Ott (LS)

Possible Practice Squad Candidates:

Sam Hartman

Cole Turner

Chris Rodriguez

Austin Jones

Kaz Allen

Mitchell Tinsley

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint

Armani Taylor-Prioleau

David Nwaogwugwu

Norell Pollard

Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Andre Jones Jr.

Chigozie Anusiem

Kyu Blu-Kelly

As Denzel Washington continues to flirt with onscreen retirement, an old friend recently got him to serve at least one more performance.

The Academy Award winner said he was “tremendously inspired” by director Ridley Scott‘s upcoming sequel Gladiator II, which premieres Nov. 22 in theaters, while hinting that he’s nearing the end of his acting career.

“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” he told Empire after last working with Scott on 2007’s American Gangster.

“We had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration,” added Washington. “We should all want to feel like that at 86.”

Scott said the long-awaited sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 movie is “the best thing I’ve ever made,” before clarifying, “One of the best things. I’ve made a few good ‘uns… it’s full-bore, brutal action.”

In Gladiator II, Paul Mescal stars as Lucius, who enters the Coliseum years after witnessing Maximus (played in the original by Russell Crowe) die at the hands of his uncle, Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

After making his onscreen debut more than 40 years ago, Washington has added directing and producing to his resumé with such titles as Antwone Fisher (2002), The Great Debaters (2007), Fences (2016) and A Journal for Jordan (2021).

Washington previously hinted at his retirement from acting as he appeared at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Florida in June.

“The things that are going on for me professionally behind the camera are as important to me now as in front of the camera,” said Washington. “I think there’s less and less time I’ll be spending in front of the camera.”

Is it time for Denzel Washington to hang up his acting chops?

The two-time Oscar winner appeared to tease his retirement in a new interview with Empire magazine, revealing that he has little interest in making any new films — except Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.”

Washington, 69, stars as Macrinus in the upcoming action movie.

While promoting the project, the legendary actor expressed his lack of interest in movie-making, revealing the sword-swinging gladiator film was one of the only roles that got his engine revving lately.

“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” Washington told Empire about why he agreed to join the highly anticipated “Gladiator” sequel.

The producer and director — who is arguably one of the best actors of his generation — did not disclose how many other roles are in his future.

Washington has paired up with Scott, 86, in the past. The duo teamed up for the 2007 thriller “American Gangster,” scoring several award nominations for their work on the film.

“We had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration,” Washington shared. “We should all want to feel like that at 86.”

Scott, who made the first Oscar-winning “Gladiator” film starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and more, is confident about the sequel.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever made. One of the best things. I’ve made a few good ’uns… it’s full-bore, brutal action,” the award-winning director told the magazine in a separate interview.

Scott can’t stop gushing over the film.

“It’s as good as the first one,” he told People at the “Alien: Romulus” premiere on August 12. “I didn’t say better. It’s as good.”

Besides Washington, the sequel also stars Paul Mescal as the lead and Pedro Pascal.

Washington has been a heavyweight in Hollywood for nearly 50 years. He’s been acting since the late ’70s, starring in blockbusters like “Man on Fire,” “The Equalizer,” “The Book of Eli,” “The Bone Collector,” “Remember The Titans,” and many more.

He won Academy Awards for his performances in “Glory” (1989) and “Training Day” (2001).

This isn’t the first time he’s talked about stepping away from acting.

In July, Washington appeared on a panel at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach and said, “The things that are going on for me professionally behind the camera are as important to me now as in front of the camera.”

“I think there’s less and less time I’ll be spending in front of the camera.”

He’s been dropping hints for a while.

“I’m in the yellow leaf of my career. To be quite honest, looking to do other things. So as far as acting, it’s gonna have to be an extreme challenge for me to be interested,” Washington told Entertainment Tonight in 2021. I’ve been talking to one or two of the top directors in the business, and we’re talking about maybe doing something. There’s not that much left for me to do as actor.”

“Gladiators II’ hits theaters on November 22, 2024.