Adam Peters has work to do, and the Commanders’ center spot is the clearest place to start.
What was supposed to be a settled job has turned into one of the messiest parts of Washington’s roster construction this summer. Nick Allegretti, the presumptive starter, has barely been on the field since training camp opened. He first went down with a calf strain on July 29, returned on Aug. 18 after almost three weeks out, then aggravated the issue the next day and hasn’t played since.
That forced Washington into a shaky rotation. Julian Good-Jones and Matt Gulbin have both been asked to hold down the middle, and neither has done much to inspire confidence.
Dan Quinn gave Good-Jones the first crack for weeks while Allegretti was sidelined, then shifted to Gulbin heading into the final week of the preseason. The results never really stabilized.
The problems were laid bare Wednesday during the joint practice with the Ravens, when reporters on site generally came away saying the offensive line struggled badly, with center drawing particular concern. At that point, the situation stopped looking temporary and started looking like a real roster issue.
Peters clearly penciled Allegretti in to handle center even though he’s mostly been a guard in the NFL. The plan left Washington thin if injury or poor play showed up, and that’s exactly what happened. Good-Jones entered 2026 without much center experience, and Gulbin is still just a sixth-round pick trying to find his footing.
That leaves Quinn with limited options and the front office with the responsibility to step in. There are only so many levers the coach can pull from here.
It’s easy to look back and revisit the offseason decisions, from why Tyler Biasdaz was released without the need for cap relief to why the Commanders didn’t add an outside veteran once Tyler Linderbaum went to Las Vegas. It also invites second-guessing about draft decisions, including why first-round or third-round picks weren’t used on a center over Sonny Style and Antonio Williams.
But the reality is the same no matter how Washington got here: the Commanders need help at center, at minimum. Peters and his pro scouting staff know who’s still available on the street, including former Lions starter Graham Glasgow, and they also know which players might be cut and what their trade market could look like.
They’ve got cap space to work with, along with two sixth-round picks and a seventh-rounder if they need to sweeten a deal.
A true every-down starter may be out of reach now. Washington is likely hoping Allegretti can get healthy, catch up quickly, and be ready to handle the job on Sept. 13 against Philadelphia.
That outcome is still on the table. If Allegretti comes back strong and stays healthy, this entire issue could fade fast.
But training camp has given enough reason to doubt that plan, which is why Peters needs to stay aggressive and find an experienced backup who can play meaningful snaps if called upon. The current reserves haven’t shown they’re ready, and even a strong performance in Friday’s preseason finale won’t erase that.
The offensive line is already operating in flux after Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps a few weeks ago, pushing Brandon Coleman to left tackle and ending the battle between Chris Paul and Coleman at left guard. That change helped settle one spot, but it also thinned the overall group and left more work to be done.
The D.J. Humphries signing this week was a start.
It wasn’t enough to close the book. Washington still needs real help at center, and it should keep searching for upgrades further down the depth chart as the roster gets sorted out.
In Other News...
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For fans, it is a strange but familiar sight: the identity once tied to the franchise is back on gear, but only in this controlled, commemorative form. The team says the use is meant to honor former players and protect against unauthorized reproductions, while making clear the Redskins name and logo are not coming back as the clubs primary branding. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Real Backup QB Battle To Watch
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Kaliakmanis has been the more efficient passer in limited action, with better yards per attempt and a stronger passer rating while avoiding interceptions. Washington is set to keep evaluating both quarterbacks in the upcoming scrimmages and the preseason finale, and for a team trying to settle the depth chart, the next few live reps could go a long way in deciding who sticks. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Got Pulled Into Another Awkward Offseason Mess
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For Washington, it is another awkward subplot around a quarterback already spending the offseason recovering from injuries sustained last season. Daniels has enough on his plate without a college-number dispute following him into the summer, but the situation has now become part of the larger conversation around him, thanks in no small part to the internet's willingness to turn it into a running joke. [Read more 🡒]