The Washington Commanders didn’t wait long to send a message about their offensive line. After what happened in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, general manager Adam Peters moved quickly, and the response was a clear one: the team is bringing in Lucas Patrick.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix reported that the Commanders are signing the versatile interior offensive lineman to their 53-man roster. Given how the line looked at Lincoln Financial Field, this reads like a direct reaction to a group that left too many questions unanswered.
Patrick brings experience at all three interior offensive line spots, which is exactly the kind of flexibility Washington needs right now. He played in six games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season and made one start. That’s not the profile of a difference-maker, but for a team searching for stability and depth, it’s enough to get a look.
And it puts pressure on the players already in the mix.
Nick Allegretti is the biggest name under the microscope. Peters made the call to install Allegretti as the starting center this offseason after releasing Tyler Biadasz, and the gamble came without much of a safety net. Fans were already skeptical after the Commanders struck out on Tyler Linderbaum, and that concern looks a lot sharper now.
Allegretti was poor in Philadelphia. He looked uncertain, missed responsibilities, and lost track of assignments at key moments. With only sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin sitting behind him, his hold on the job is suddenly shaky.
Chris Paul is in the picture too, though his situation is a little different. He played well last season, but the market didn’t exactly come calling when free agency opened.
Washington brought him back on a one-year deal, and he was willing to bet on himself. Even so, the Tulsa product appeared headed for a fight to keep his role before Laremy Tunsil’s unfortunate injury changed the setup.
Patrick’s arrival only adds more heat.
There’s also the health question. The New York Giants cut Patrick before the season, but the reports around him were positive. Then his knee issue surfaced again, so Washington will have to see how much he can handle right away.
Still, the Commanders clearly felt they had to act. Having these issues after one game is not where anyone wanted to be, but Peters is at least trying to fix it. The bigger problem is that the warning signs were there before Week 1, and now the bill has come due.
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