Sam Cosmi’s versatility helping Commanders overcome interior OL injuries

The Washington Commanders have been bit pretty hard by the injury bug during training camp. While multiple first-teamers opened camp on the physically unable to perform list, the tight end position and offensive lines in particular have seen several key depth pieces endure injuries in recent weeks.

At tight end, Cole Turner (hamstring) and John Bates (calf) are both sidelined, and promising undrafted free agent Armani Rogers joined them on the side field Tuesday, leaving Curtis Hodges and Eli Wolf as the only healthy TEs.

The injuries at tight end have stolen the spotlight at camp, but the interior of Washington’s offensive lie is pretty banged up, too.

New signing Trai Turner (quad) has been sidelined all of camp and fellow top guards Andrew Norwell and Wes Schweitzer weren’t available Tuesday.

The returns of Chase Roullier and Cornelius Lucas have helped the coaching staff navigate the revolving door, but it was Sam Cosmi’s versatility that garnered the most attention after he took first-team reps at right guard.

Sam Cosmi’s versatility coming in handy for the Commanders.

With no Norwell, Turner or Schweitzer, it seems like Washington rolled with Charles Leno at left tackle, Saahdiq Charles (?) at left guard, Roullier at center, Cosmi at right guard and Lucas at right tackle. That lineup won’t instill much confidence in fans, but then again OL guru John Matsko could make lemonade without lemons.

Cosmi exuded confidence in the Commanders’ right guard options last week at practice. Little did he know, though, that he’d be filling in for his teammates the following week. The 2021 second-round pick played guard and both tackle positions at Texas, so it’s not crazy to think he could make a spot-start at guard if need be.

And while some draft prognosticators believe Cosmi has a higher ceiling as an interior lineman, he showed far too much promise at right tackle as a rookie for us to even entertain a potential position switch. After all, he announced himself as one of the game’s best run-blocking right tackles.

In nine games, Cosmi compiled the third-best run block win rate among RTs and ranked 11th among all tackles with a 81.3 run-blocking grade, according to PFF.

Though he excels in the run game, Cosmi is no slouch in pass protection. Over 282 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just four sacks and 16 pressures.

The Commanders haven’t hit on a second-round pick in ages, but Cosmi seems poised to break that curse if he stays healthy. The fact he’s comfortable playing anywhere the coaching staff asks of him just speaks to his potential.