Will Harris arrived in Washington last offseason with endorsements from the coaching staff. Now, heading into the final preseason game, his spot on the Commanders' 53-man roster is less certain.
The Commanders signed Harris as a free agent in 2025 after he played the prior season with the New Orleans Saints. Both head coach Dan Quinn and then-defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. praised his versatility and experience. Harris played well in the season opener against the New York Giants, but things did not stay on track.
In Week 2 against the Packers, the defense struggled to cover a Green Bay tight end in both zone and man coverage. The following week against the Raiders, Harris fractured a fibula. The injury kept him out for eight weeks.
He returned November 30 for a 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos and finished the 2025 season with nine games played. Heading into 2026, the expectation among fans was that Harris would be back.
That expectation has run into a changed organization, according to Yahoo Sports. The Commanders hired Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator. Jones came from the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked under Brian Flores, and brought a different defensive scheme with him.
Washington was active in reshaping its safety room. The team signed Nick Cross away from the Indianapolis Colts in free agency and re-signed Jeremy Reaves. They also signed Qwuantrezz Knight to a futures contract, brought back Percy Butler, Tyler Owens, and Quan Martin, and after the draft added Michigan State safety Malik Spencer.
Harris is now one of several safeties competing for limited spots on a roster being built around a new defensive system. The clearest signal of where he stands has come from the preseason itself. Against both the Dolphins and the Lions, Harris rotated into games later than he did during last year's preseason, suggesting the new coaching staff has him lower on the depth chart.
During the game against Detroit, Harris was caught out of position on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Joshua Dobbs. Rookie Joshua Josephs was also involved in the breakdown, but Harris was visibly not on the same page as the rest of the defense on the play.
Harris will turn 31 in December. Age, a new scheme, and a crowded depth chart are all working against him. The Commanders play Friday night in Baltimore, and how early or late Harris takes the field in that game will offer more clarity on where the coaching staff actually sees him.
