Commanders reportedly sign veteran defensive tackle with local ties

The Washington Commanders continue to churn the bottom of the roster. Over the weekend, the Commanders worked out several players and ended up signing three offensive linemen for depth. Another move Washington made over the weekend was moving fifth-year defensive tackle DJ Davidson to the reserve/retired list.

Davidson faced long odds of making Washington’s 53-man roster, but it wasn’t out of the question. So, the Commanders brought in several players on Monday for tryouts. There were eight players in total, and apparently Washington has made a move, signing veteran defensive tackle Byron Cowart, according to Commanders insider Ben Standig.

The Commanders are expected to sign DT Byron Cowart, per source.

4-year vet (51 games) and ex-Terp. Was one of 8 players to work out for Washington today.

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IDL depth after DJ Davidson retired.

He spent most of last season on IR (ankle).

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 11, 2026

Cowart is a familiar name to locals, as he finished his collegiate career at the University of Maryland. A native of Seffner, Florida, Cowart was the No. 1 overall high school player in the country in the 2015 recruiting class, committing to Auburn, where he played for three seasons.

After his one year with the Terps, Cowart entered the 2019 NFL Draft, where he was a fifth-round pick of the New England Patriots. Cowart spent three seasons with the Patriots and was waived ahead of the 2022 season. He was claimed by the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent that season. In 2023, Cowart signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, but was released shortly thereafter. He quickly signed with the Houston Texans, but was again released during final cuts.

In Sept. 2023, Cowart signed with the Miami Dolphins practice squad, where he remained for that season. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2024, where he spent that season. In 2025, Cowart was with the New York Jets, but was placed on injured reserve and later released.

Despite being in the NFL since 2019, Cowart has only appeared in 51 career games, making 21 starts. He’s recorded 67 tackles, including 10 for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He did not play last season, but in 2024 with Chicago, Cowart played in 15 games with seven starts.

Cowart would give the Commanders depth throughout the remainder of training camp, but like Davidson, he faces long odds of making the roster. But with two joint practices and three preseason games ahead, there are opportunities for players like Cowart to make an impression, whether it’s for Washington or someone else.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders reportedly sign veteran defensive tackle with local ties