Shy Tuttle is on his way out of Washington for the moment, but the separation is expected to be short-lived.
The Commanders are releasing the veteran defensive tackle as they work through their roster decisions ahead of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Even so, Washington reportedly plans to bring Tuttle back for Week 1, a move that would keep him in the team’s defensive mix after only a brief stint on the open market.
The transaction gives the Commanders more flexibility as they sort out their initial 53-man roster. It also signals that Tuttle, 30, still has a place in their plans despite the temporary roster shuffle.
Tuttle’s path to Washington has already been a winding one. He started 2025 with the Tennessee Titans, appearing in 10 games, starting one and finishing with 11 tackles and one tackle for loss before being released in December. The Commanders claimed him off waivers and got him into their final two regular-season games, where he added four tackles.
Washington kept that connection going into the offseason, signing Tuttle to an extension in March.
The appeal is pretty clear: he brings experience. Tuttle entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2019, carved out a role as an interior defender, and spent four seasons in New Orleans before moving on to the Carolina Panthers in 2023.
Entering the 2026 season, Tuttle has played in 107 career games with 66 starts. His resume includes 247 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.
For Washington, that kind of interior presence can still matter. Tuttle’s ability to eat up blockers and offer veteran depth gives the Commanders another piece to work with as they sort out the defensive line rotation.
So while he is officially a release right now, the story doesn’t appear to end there.
If Washington’s plan holds, Tuttle should be back with the Commanders when the regular season opens.
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