The Washington Commanders didn’t need long to make a change up front.
After a rough Week 1 showing against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team is reportedly signing versatile interior offensive lineman Lucas Patrick to the 53-man roster, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix. It’s the latest sign that the Commanders were unhappy with what they saw at Lincoln Financial Field.
Patrick gives Washington a body with some real versatility. He has played all three interior offensive line spots and appeared in six games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season, starting one. That isn’t elite production, but for a team thin on dependable depth, it’s enough to warrant a look.
And depth is exactly where the Commanders have been exposed.
The move puts pressure squarely on Nick Allegretti and Chris Paul. Allegretti was handed the starting center job this offseason after Tyler Biadasz was released, and the Commanders also took a swing at Tyler Linderbaum without any obvious backup plan if it didn’t work out. That gamble looked shaky before the season even started, and Week 1 only made the concern louder.
Allegretti was rough against the Eagles, looking uncertain, missing assignments, and generally struggling in the moments that mattered most. With only sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin behind him, his grip on the job is now very much in question.
Paul’s situation is less dramatic, but it’s still under pressure. He played well last season, yet the market didn’t exactly come calling.
Washington brought him back on a one-year deal, and the expectation was that he could hold onto a role. Instead, he seemed on track to lose his starting spot to Brandon Coleman before Laremy Tunsil’s unfortunate injury changed the picture.
Patrick can add to that competition, assuming his knee cooperates. The New York Giants cut him before the season, but the early reports on him were positive. The knee issue did flare up again, though, so how much he can contribute right away in Washington remains a real question.
Even so, the message is clear: the Commanders are searching for answers. Getting to that point after one game is not a good sign, and fans saw the problem coming. Peters is trying to patch things together now, but this latest move also underlines how avoidable the situation might have been if the approach had been different earlier in the year.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Got A New Reason To Feel Better About Von Miller
Von Millers first night in a Cowboys uniform came and went without much of a statistical footprint, as he logged 11 snaps against the Giants and did not register a stat. It was a quiet debut for a player Dallas brought in to add edge and experience, and it also served as an early reminder for Washington of how differently this move could have played out after the Commanders decided not to re-sign him last season.
Now the clock is already ticking toward Week 2, when Miller is set to face Washington in a game that carries real weight for both teams. For the Commanders, the first glimpse of him in Dallas colors only adds another layer to a matchup they will be watching closely, especially if his role grows from a limited opening assignment into something more disruptive. [Read more 🡒]
Stefon Diggs Case Just Raised A Question Washington Fans Will Notice
Stefon Diggs is already dealing with a civil lawsuit that has kept his name in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and the latest development only adds another layer to a case Washington fans are likely to keep an eye on. Christopher Blake Griffith alleges Diggs drugged and sexually assaulted him in 2023, while Diggs has denied the claims and responded with a defamation suit of his own.
A federal judge has now ordered Diggs to provide a detailed account of his relationship with Griffith, a sign the case is moving into a more probing phase. Griffith has also asked to move the trial venue because of concerns about local jury bias, and the judge has not yet ruled on that request, leaving another important question hanging as the legal fight continues. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Jordan Magee Problem They Didn't Need
Jordan Magees rookie season has hit an early snag the Commanders could have done without. After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1, the linebacker has been placed on injured reserve, meaning Washington will have to get by without him for at least four games while he turns his attention to rehab.
For a defense already leaning on depth at linebacker, the timing is less than ideal. Magee has dealt with setbacks before, and this latest one puts his development on pause just as the Commanders were trying to sort out availability issues elsewhere on the roster, leaving his return later in the season as one more thing to monitor. [Read more 🡒]