In a surprising turn of events, the Washington Commanders have signed Ramiz Ahmed, a former Green Bay Packers kicker, to their roster. Ahmed's addition comes after Brandon McManus was released by the team amidst ongoing controversy.

Ahmed's journey to Washington has been marked by ups and downs. He was initially let go by the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL in late May when their primary placekicker, Chris Blewitt, returned from injury. Ahmed then joined the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 2022 USFL season, where he showcased his kicking skills, making 10 out of 13 attempts and recording a long of 61 yards.

Impressed by his performance with the Maulers, the Green Bay Packers signed Ahmed in August 2022. Although he started on the practice squad, he was occasionally activated for gameday as a kickoff specialist, providing support to aging kicker Mason Crosby. Unfortunately, Ahmed's time with the Packers was cut short when he injured his groin during warmups prior to Green Bay's Week 17 game. This injury proved to be the last time he appeared in a Packers uniform.

Now, with McManus's departure, Ahmed finds himself as the sole kicker on the Commanders' roster. The team's decision to release McManus was influenced by ongoing legal issues, as McManus is currently facing allegations of sexual assault during the Jaguars' international flight to London last season.

While Ahmed's signing may come as a surprise considering his recent release from a UFL team, the Commanders might not be done adding kickers to their camp. If they are seeking a kicker with NFL experience, they may want to monitor the situation in Green Bay. There, returning starter Anders Carlson, former Minnesota Vikings starter Greg Joseph, and Jack Podlesny are currently vying for the job.

It remains to be seen whether another former Packers kicker will find his way onto the Commanders' roster, but that possibility may have to wait until roster cutdowns. In any case, Ahmed's resilience and perseverance have propelled him from a UFL release to becoming the primary kicker for the Washington Commanders.