Commanders Sign P Matt Haack as Tress Way Nurses Pec Injury

Washington signed veteran punter Matt Haack on Tuesday, filling a roster hole created when three-time Pro Bowler Tress Way went down with a pectoral injury. Haack earned the deal off a workout, and his résumé is deep if unspectacular — seven appearances for the Cardinals last season, with prior stops in Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cleveland and with the Giants.

General manager Adam Peters confirmed Way's pec issue but downplayed the timeline, saying the veteran isn't expected to miss an extended stretch. That framing matters: this looks like a short-term insurance move, not a changing of the guard. Peters also noted linebacker Kain Medrano will be sidelined with a hamstring problem.

For most fantasy formats, a punter swap barely registers — punters don't score in standard leagues. But the ripple effects around a special teams shuffle are worth a beat, especially in deeper IDP setups where Medrano's absence could open reps for someone behind him on the depth chart.

Way's injury is the more notable thread. He's been a fixture in Washington for years, and any disruption to the punting rotation can quietly affect field position — which in turn nudges the fantasy value of the offense and kicker who inherit shorter or longer fields. Haack is a competent stopgap, nothing more.

Medrano's hamstring is the item to file away if you play IDP. Hamstrings are notoriously unpredictable, and a linebacker missing time in the preseason ramp can lose a rotational role before Week 1 even arrives. Keep an eye on who steps up in his place.

Bottom line: Way's pec injury reads as minor per Peters, so there's nothing to do with him — hold and monitor for a return timeline. Haack is a name to know, not a name to roster. And if you're in an IDP league, tag Medrano as a watch and track his hamstring recovery through camp.