Taylor Decker’s path forward may have gotten a lot clearer after Washington lost its starting left tackle.
Laremy Tunsil, the Commanders’ five-time Pro Bowl left tackle, reportedly tore his triceps in training camp on Saturday during 1-on-1 drills, and he’s expected to miss an extensive period of time. For a Washington team trying to push toward contention in a pretty wide-open NFC East, that kind of injury can force an immediate move - and Taylor Decker suddenly looks like the cleanest option.
Decker made it clear after getting released by the Lions this past offseason that he would never sign with an NFC North team. The NFC East, though, was never off the table. If he’s still looking to play, Washington now feels like the most logical landing spot.
That’s not because Decker is coming off his best work. He was a step slow during his year with Detroit in 2025, and the Lions moved on after the season.
A fan favorite and a key piece of Detroit’s strong offensive lines in 2023 and 2024, Decker was bothered by upper body injuries that affected his ability to hold up against the pass rush. He was also part of the reason Jared Goff took the most sacks of his career in 2025.
Still, the injuries explain a lot of the dip, and Decker hasn’t announced any retirement plans. At 31, he’s on the older side for a tackle, but he also hasn’t been involved in training camp or workouts with NFL teams this offseason, which suggests he may simply be waiting for the right opportunity.
Washington would give him one. The Commanders already have Chris Paul on the left side of the line, and he allowed just two sacks last season while posting a 77.4 PFF grade as a pass blocker. That setup would be a much friendlier one for Decker than what he dealt with last year alongside fellow-injured lineman Christian Mahogany.
If both sides want a real reset for 2026, Washington and Decker make plenty of sense together.
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Lions Suddenly Have A Backup QB Problem They Did Not Expect
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For a team that had Bridgewater penciled in as a reliable insurance policy behind Jared Goff, the timing creates a clear need to act fast. Detroit is expected to add a veteran backup quarterback soon, and with the preseason opener against Cincinnati approaching, the Lions would like that situation settled before the next round of live game reps makes the depth chart even more important. [Read more 🡒]