The news out of Ashburn is a gut punch. Losing Laremy Tunsil (torn triceps) for a significant stretch of the season is the exact scenario nobody wanted to think about. When you have a franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels entering his crucial third NFL season, blindside protection isn’t just a luxury—it’s the foundation of the entire offense.
Now, General Manager Adam Peters and the coaching staff are staring down a major reshuffle. Let’s break down the realistic options Washington has to keep Daniels upright.
The Immediate Patch: Andrew Wylie
Andrew Wylie was the first man up after Tunsil went down, taking the initial practice reps at left tackle. Wylie has veteran savvy and has played both tackle spots, but let’s be realistic: he does his best work at right guard.
While he can pinch-hit on the edge, the Commanders haven’t viewed him as a permanent left tackle. Trusting Wylie as the long-term solution against elite NFC East edge rushers feels like putting a band-aid on a much larger issue.
The High-Upside Shift: Josh Conerly Jr.
What about the kid? The Commanders drafted Josh Conerly Jr. with the 29th overall pick in 2025. After a trial-by-fire start to his rookie year against some of the league’s most terrifying pass rushers, he really settled in and anchored the right tackle spot down the stretch.
Here is the dilemma: Conerly was an elite left tackle at the University of Oregon. It is his natural side. Moving him back to the left could give Washington a highly athletic protector. However, kicking him over instantly creates a massive void at right tackle just as he was starting to lock it down. Does shifting Conerly fix one problem only to create another immediately?
The Battle-Tested Vet: Brandon Coleman
If you want the most logical solution, Brandon Coleman is the way to go.
Yes, Coleman . Also, he is locked in a fierce camp battle against Chris Paul for left guard. But we cannot ignore his resume on the edge. Coleman has actually started 15 games at left tackle over the past two seasons combined, rather than just in his 2024 rookie year alone. Crucially, he was the starting left tackle during Washington’s magical 2024 run to the NFC Championship.
The Bottom Line: Coleman has the athleticism, the left tackle reps, and the proven ability to protect Daniels in the highest-stakes playoff atmospheres.
Moving him back outside allows the coaching staff to cleanly hand the left guard job to Chris Paul without disrupting the chemistry and development on the right side of the offensive line.
The Wildcards
It’s also worth noting that Washington had unbelievable timing by signing Nicholas Petit-Frere right before Laremy Tunsil went down. Petit-Frere brings 28 career starts, though primarily at right tackle, with a dozen starts at left tackle during his 2021 season at Ohio State. There’s also the very real possibility that Peters isn’t done shopping and looks outside the building for a veteran addition.
But if we are looking internally? The answer is right in front of them. Let Conerly continue his ascending trajectory on the right, keep Wylie fresh for the interior, and kick Coleman back to the blindside where he’s already shown he can anchor a championship-caliber team.
