Commanders injury news: Dan Quinn provides Laremy Tunsil updates
· Yahoo Sports
Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps. The injury will require surgery. Tunsil will miss significant time.
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Head coach Dan Quinn made those facts official before Monday morning’s training camp practice, confirming reports about the worst-case scenario following a Saturday 1-on-1 rep with Odafe Oweh where Tunsil got hurt. While his exact recovery timetable won’t be known until after surgery – Tunsil is still seeking medical opinions, so a procedure date hasn’t been set – Tunsil is expected to miss a vast portion of the season at minimum.
It’s all bad news for the Commanders. Quinn didn’t sugarcoat that in his first public comments on the matter.
“It’s always tough to talk about a player missing time with a great player like LT,” Quinn said in his Monday press conference. “Not only is he a great player, he is a fantastic teammate. He will be missed and we can’t wait to get him back.”
Quinn also confirmed that Washington will roll with Brandon Coleman at left tackle, a position the TCU product played during the 2024 season and again when Tunsil got hurt last year. Coleman has 18 left-tackle starts to his credit, but was competing with Chris Paul to be the starting left guard in 2026.
Coleman’s a versatile player, and working inside offered his best shot at playing time with Tunsil as an elite, every-down left tackle. Coleman has played a lot outside, so the transition shouldn’t be too tough. Quinn also said that Coleman has improved as a player since his rookie trial by fire at left tackle.
“When you’re a rookie thrown into it and you go through the ups and downs, I think he, after going through some adversity and you get to Year 2 and you want to fight back,” Quinn said. “That’s the type of offseason he had. That’s why I think he’s been off to a good start inside at left guard. We’ll make the move to switch him outside, but, when you come through the tough things, you come out the other side stronger, harder after learning the lessons. Brandon and a couple of other guys are in that same space.”
The Commanders will go with Coleman at left tackle and have chosen to leave 2025 first-round NFL draft pick Josh Conerly Jr. at right tackle despite extensive experience playing on the left in college.
“We like the progression of where Josh is,” Quinn said. “(Tunsil) is going to be back, and we thought we’d keep the development of where Josh is, and not the shuffle of lots of shuffling.”
Quinn also said the Commanders haven’t, to this point, discussed bringing in a left tackle from the outside.
Coleman’s the first option and can cement his place with solid work in camp. No matter what happens at left tackle replacing all Tunsil provides is impossible.
“He’s in fantastic shape. He’s really on the top of his game right now,” Quinn said. “In the run and pass, he’s an equally strong player. This is a big deal. When the game’s on, you run behind a player like that. In pass protection, you don’t have to give a lot of help. That’s a good thing.
“…The on-field portion speaks for itself. This is a great player. The off-field portion is also significant, with his teammates and how he interacts with them. On and off the field, this is significant for us.”