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Washington Commanders Sign Free Agent Linebacker
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- Washington Commanders Sign Free Agent Linebacker
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
The Washington Commanders are set to return to the practice field on Tuesday ahead of the start of week two of the preseason slate, but they are now expected to add a second addition to the 90-man roster.
The Commanders are expected to sign linebacker Krys Barnes after working out for the team on Monday. Barnes was one of four linebackers to work out for the team alongside Triston Newson, Brandon Smith and Kyzir White while a trio of tight ends -- Brandon Frazier, Johnny Lumpkin , Tre McKitty -- also arrived in Ashburn for workouts.
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The signing makes Barnes just the third free agent linebacker to sign with the Commanders this offseason with Leo Chenal and Curtis Jacobs , along with the fourth addition to the unit with rookie Sonny Styles anchoring the inside linebackers.
Barnes, 28, adds additional practice depth for the Commanders with Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu , Jordan Magee and Kain Medrano all anchoring the inside linebacker room while Ale Kaho came down with one of the three interceptions hauled in by the defense in Friday's win.
Barnes spent the 2025 season with the Carolina Panthers where he tallied 23 total tackles and 0.5 sacks in seven games before becoming a free agent. He also started in six games and appeared in 32 games during his two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals where he tallied 90 total tackles, two sacks and an interception. He began his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers after inking a three year deal back in 2020 where he started in 24 games and appeared in 35 during the duration of his contract. Barnes recorded career-highs with 81 total tackles and 58 solo tackles in his second season with the Packers, along with 20 total tackles across three postseason appearances.
The journeyman linebacker becomes the second free agent to sign with the team following a workout after news broke on Monday morning that running back Craig Reynolds is also signing with the Commanders. The former Lions running back arrives adding depth at the position with Jeremy McNichols still sidelined due to a quad injury suffered earlier during training camp.
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The Commanders will hit the road for the first of two straight preseason road games, and four straight games including the regular season, when they take on the Detroit Lions for a 12 PM ET kickoff before closing out the preseason schedule against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank next weekend.
