NFL Preseason Catch Leader Rivaldo Fairweather Gets Commanders Look After Surprising Exit

Rivaldo Fairweather is getting another NFL opportunity after a preseason that put his name on the radar. The former Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys tight end is working out for the Washington Commanders .

Fairweather's timing is interesting because he has already been moving around since the preseason ended. He worked out for the Kansas City Chiefs on September 4 and was also scheduled to visit the Indianapolis Colts . Now the Commanders are taking a look at the tight end who led the NFL in preseason catches.

Rivaldo Fairweather Gets Another Shot With The Washington Commanders

Fairweather caught 17 of 21 passes for 150 yards during the preseason, making his eventual release by the Cardinals a bit of a surprise. He had been active in the passing game throughout the summer and finished with more receptions than any other player in the league during the preseason.

The production wasn't random. Fairweather went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft following his stint as a collegiate player at Auburn. Fairweather originally signed with the Cowboys and had 5 receptions for a touchdown in the 2025 preseason. Dallas didn't keep Fairweather on the first 53-man roster and kept him on the practice squad.

The Cardinals subsequently signed Fairweather from the Dallas practice squad in December. Fairweather is going into this year's preseason fight to make the roster and made a convincing case for himself in doing so. His 17 receptions came on 21 targets, while his 150 yards receiving gives teams a lot of recent film to look at.

Still, the Cardinals moved on. That has left Fairweather looking for a place where his receiving ability can turn into a regular-season opportunity. So far, teams have continued to show interest.

The Chiefs were one of the first clubs to bring him in after Arizona's roster decision. Kansas City was looking for additional tight end depth, and Fairweather's size and receiving production made him an obvious player to examine. The Colts also showed interest, particularly after losing Will Mallory to injured reserve and being left with only three tight ends on the active roster.

Now Washington has joined the list. Fairweather stands around 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds, giving him the size teams generally want from the position. He also has some experience working from the slot. His final two college seasons produced 69 catches for 766 yards and 8 touchdowns.

The Commanders don't necessarily need the 24-year-old to walk in and become a major part of the offense. A workout is simply a chance for the team to see where he is physically and whether his preseason production translates to what Washington wants from its tight ends.

For Fairweather, though, the opportunit y is bigger. The Commanders are now the latest team willing to take a closer look. If Fairweather can impress during the workout, his unusual preseason exit could quickly turn into another chance on an NFL roster.