The Commanders announced they placed Ahkello Witherspoon on the reserve/retired list and signed Fabian Moreau to take his spot on the roster. Moreau was drafted in the third round by Washington in 2017 . He spent the first four years of his career in Washington before moving on and spending time with four different teams over five years. His latest stop was in Minnesota , where he played under Brian Flores and current Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Witherspoon signed a one-year deal with the Commanders in March after spending the previous three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams . Drafted in 2017 by the San Francisco 49ers , Witherspoon racked up 13 interceptions in 96 games played during his nine-year career.
Fabian Moreau returns to Washington Commanders secondary
The last time Moreau suited up for the burgundy and gold, it was a very different scene, and a different team name. During his first four years in Washington, he grabbed six interceptions and 45 pass deflections. Missing only four games during that time, he was a key piece of the 2020 Washington defense that won the NFC East with a 7-9 record.
Coached by Jack Del Rio during his last season in Washington, Moreau rejoins the Commanders with a familiar face at the helm. Moreau adds depth to a cornerback room that started training camp a man down, as Trey Amos continues to work back from injury. After bouncing back and forth from the practice squad in Minnesota , Moreau looks to return to the field in a more consistent role.
Daronte Jones' connection brought Fabian Moreau to Washington
Daronte Jones comes to Washington after Dan Quinn parted ways with Joe Whitt Jr. at the end of the 2025 season. Jones spent the last two years under Brian Flores , where they built one of the best secondaries in the league, allowing the second-fewest passing yards in the league and forcing 13 interceptions in 2025. This comes after Washington allowed the fifth-most passing yards in 2025 .
"Details kind of separate you from being average and being really good," said Ken Norton Jr., the Commanders' veteran linebackers coach who is working with Jones for the first time. "And [Jones] knows his details. He understands that we need to understand what the details are of each and every position and each and every coverage."
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
