Ron Rivera says Washington was moving in a different direction when the team released offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Geron Christian last week.
Moses started every game for Washington since the start of the 2015 season, 96 consecutive to be exact, primarily at right tackle. Last season he slid over to left tackle for two games after injuries to Christian and Cornelius Lucas. Moses was also a vocal leader in the locker room. His rallies to his teammates was caught at times on the sidelines.
Speaking to reporters following the first day of voluntary OTAs, Rivera explained the decision to part ways with Morgan Moses and Geron Christian.
“Nothing other than we’re just going in a different direction,” Rivera said per Ryan Homler of NBC Sports Washington. “We have an opportunity to get some young guys on the field. We went out and brought in a veteran left tackle (Charles Leno). So, feel very comfortable with those decisions because of the players we have on the roster right now.”
Washington signed Charles Leno Jr. and drafted Samuel Cosmi out of Texas in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft. They also traded for Ereck Flowers, who spent the first four seasons of his career at left tackle before moving to guard in 2019 while with Washington prior to going to the Miami Dolphins.
Then there is Saahdiq Charles, who can also play tackle and guard. Tuesday, Charles took first team reps at left tackle with Leno absent from OTAs. Lucas started eight games at left tackle for Washington in 2020, but is more comfortable as a right tackle. Cosmi is set to compete with Lucas for right tackle to replace Moses.
The numerous options made parting ways with Moses, who had two years remaining on his deal but with no guaranteed money, easier.
“They’re both very good players,” Rivera added speaking of Moses and Christian. “They were good players for us and they’ll continue to be good players in the league. We just feel it’s an opportunity to get some young guys on the field.”
Interestingly enough, Christian is rather young, just 24 years of age. He was a third-round pick in 2018 under Bruce Allen and then head coach Jay Gruden. Christian spent the bulk of his first two seasons as a swing tackle but got the chance at left tackle last season in Rivera’s first year as head coach.
Christian started six games before a knee injury sent him to injured reserve. Adding Leno and Cosmi seemingly placed Christian as an odd man out even with the team releasing Moses.
Christian was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans. He’ll get an opportunity to latch on as Houston looks to revamp its struggling offensive line. Moses remains a free agent.
