The Washington Commanders announced on Thursday that they re-signed running back Michael Wiley to a Reserve/Futures deal. Wiley was an undrafted rookie out of the University of Arizona but eventually found his way onto the Commanders' practice squad during the 2024 season. The 24-year-old never got brought up to the active 53-man roster for a regular season game, though, and he will now look to continue his development this offseason in Washington before he makes his case for a roster spot in spring training this summer. Wiley stands at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds and is a native of Houston, Texas.
Michael Wiley Tallies Rushing Score In Preseason Finale
Washington Commanders rookie running back Michael Wiley tallied 26 yards on the ground with a rushing score on Sunday evening. This was his second rushing score of the preseason, and he ran for 67 yards over the past three weeks. Wiley joined the Commanders as an undrafted free agent this offseason and could have earned a spot on the final roster, given his strong performance on Sunday. The Arizona product may eventually slot in as the No. 3 or 4 option on the depth chart as Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. have fallen short of expectations this preseason. Wiley remains a name to watch in deeper leagues but will likely not be fantasy-relevant during his rookie campaign.
Michael Wiley Plays Well In First Professional Game
Washington Commanders running back Michael Wiley led the team in rushing yards and attempts with 34 on eight carries. He also caught his one target for five yards and punched in a score at the goal line. The undrafted rookie entered the game to start the second half and remained a key part of the offense towards the back half of the game. His touchdown late in the fourth quarter put the Commanders ahead, but they were unable to hold on to the lead. Wiley totaled 311 yards on the ground and 306 through the air in his final season at Arizona this past fall. Currently, Wiley slots in behind Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols on the depth chart but could push to serve as a depth option in the backfield, as both Rodriguez and McNichols combined for 10 rushing yards on nine carries on Saturday.
The Washington Commanders have signed undrafted running back MIchael Wiley. The Arizona product has put together a fairly strong college career. He has nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns during his time at Arizona. He's not exactly a workhorse back with only one season with 100-plus rushing attempts. Despite that, Wiley can still make an impact at the pro level. He'll have an uphill battle during camp, but the Commanders don't have many of reliable backs.
Michael Wiley
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Commanders
