The Washington Commanders spent the offseason talking themselves into an offensive line that looked built to be a real strength in 2026. On paper, it had a lot going for it: Laremy Tunsil locking down left tackle, Josh Conerly Jr. on the other edge after being taken in the first round last year, Sam Cosmi back healthy at right guard, and a left guard battle between Brandon Coleman and Chris Paul.
Center was the one spot that raised eyebrows. Washington let Tyler Biadasz go before free agency, and Adam Peters rolled the dice on Nick Allegretti, a player the Commanders said they felt good about even though he had very little NFL experience at the position.
Three weeks into training camp, that optimism has been hammered. Tunsil tore his triceps and is expected to miss a significant chunk of the season, if not all of it.
Allegretti strained his calf on the first day of camp and has not practiced since, though he’s expected back this week. With Allegretti out, Washington shifted Coleman to left tackle and handed the left guard job to Chris Paul, at least for now.
The bigger problem is that Allegretti’s absence has also put the spotlight on how thin the team is at center.
That mess is part of why Pro Football Focus dropped Washington all the way to the bottom of its latest offensive line rankings for all 32 teams.
Before Tunsil’s injury, PFF had this group sitting just inside the top 20. But losing a player of Tunsil’s caliber changes everything, and the site made that point plainly.
Josh Conerly Jr. is expected to keep growing, and his 59.9 PFF grade in 2025 was respectable for a rookie. Still, if Tunsil is gone for the year, this is a line that could be in serious trouble.
The last-place ranking feels harsh, but the concerns are real. Coleman showed he could handle left tackle as a rookie two years ago, and he has spoken about improving his body this offseason after working out with Tunsil for several weeks. There’s also hope that Conerly keeps trending up.
Even so, the questions hanging over the unit are hard to ignore. Can Allegretti give Washington the kind of play Biadasz provided?
Can Coleman stay healthy? Has Paul taken a step as a run blocker?
Those answers are still coming. For now, Peters looks like a man who will be searching for more help before final cuts.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Is Stuck In An Awkward Distraction He Did Not Need
Jayden Daniels has tried to keep the focus where it belongs this season, on his play for Washington, but an unexpected offseason issue from his LSU days has followed him into the conversation anyway. The Commanders quarterback has been performing well on the field in 2025, yet his connection to the No. 5 jersey he once wore in Baton Rouge has become a lingering off-field subplot that he did not need.
What has made it especially awkward is how public the whole thing has become, with the matter drawing plenty of trolling and commentary far beyond the LSU campus. Daniels has kept doing his job for Washington while the noise swirls around him, but this is the kind of distraction that can stick around longer than anyone involved would probably like. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Roster Shakeup Started With A Brutal Jerome Ford Turn
The Commanders latest roster churn started with a rough preseason night for Jerome Ford, whose hamstring injury during Fridays win over Miami quickly changed the look of the back end of Washingtons depth chart. Ford landed on injured reserve, ending his season before it could really begin, and the ripple effect showed up elsewhere as the team also moved receiver River Cracraft to injured reserve.
From there, Washington kept busy filling out the roster with a wave of additions, including Maurice Hurst II, Tre McKitty, Krys Barnes and Craig Reynolds, while also making other cleanup moves at kicker and punter. It was the kind of late-summer shuffle that can make the bottom of a roster feel anything but settled, and for a team still sorting out its final shape, one injury turned into several decisions in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Tackle Depth Just Entered A Trade Rumor Fans Will Notice
Laremy Tunsils injury has forced the Commanders into a quick reset at one of the most important spots on the field, with Dan Quinn already turning to Brandon Coleman as the new starter at left tackle. For now, the team is saying it will ride with what it has rather than chase outside help, even as the loss creates a real test for a position group that did not have much margin to begin with.
Walker Littles name has surfaced as a theoretical fit because of that need, but the conversation is still just that, a conversation. There have been no reported trade talks, and the Jaguars tackle is dealing with his own injury situation, which only adds to the uncertainty around whether Washington will stay internal or eventually have to explore a more aggressive answer. [Read more 🡒]