Chase Roullier injury update is nightmare scenario for the Commanders

To say the Washington Commanders got their doors blown off in the first half against the Detroit Lions would be an understatement. Lost in the mayhem of Washington’s fake second-half comeback, though, was center Chase Roullier suffering an apparent lower leg injury on the team’s second-to-last play from scrimmage.

On the play, right tackle Sam Cosmi struggled to contain his pass rusher, who blew past him towards the center of the line.

In trying to steer the rusher away from Carson Wentz’s path, Cosmi undercut Roullier at full-speed. Roullier was fulfilling his own blocking assignment, so he was fully blinded by the hit, meaning his leg was completely vulnerable.

Those types of plays rarely have happy endings and it’ll unfortunately be a while before we see Roullier on the field again for Washington.

Ron Rivera told reporters Monday that Roullier is dealing with a knee injury and will go on short-term injured reserve at minimum. That would knock Roullier out until the Commanders’ Week 7 game at home against the Packers.

Sounds like it could be much longer than that, though.

Will Commanders center Chase Roullier play again this season?

Not long after Rivera’s presser, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler came out with the gut punch of all gut punches, reporting that Roullier’s in danger of missing the rest of the season with the injury, which could require surgery to repair. The 29-year-old is seeking a second opinion to see if he can avoid going under the knife.

As a fan, your heart just aches for Roullier, who missed half of last season with a fractured fibula suffered in the Week 8 loss to Denver. This injury isn’t related to that one, as The Athletic’s Ben Standig noted above, but this likely marks the second time in a year Roullier will have to endure a grueling rehab process.

Roullier’s ankle surgery was very complicated, as he had a tightrope procedure, ligaments reattached and a plate inserted in his ankle.

Here’s a video of the play Roullier suffered the injury.

Just an awful, awful watch. That’s a 6-foot-6, 309-pound lineman barreling full speed into Roullier’s lower extremities. Much like Phidarian Mathis’ knee injury from Week 1, Roullier’s reaction told its own story in terms of the severity.

This is a killer blow to the Commanders’ interior offensive line, which was already banged up coming into Sunday’s game.

Wes Schweitzer is capable of filling in at center in a pinch, but he missed Week 2 with a hamstring injury. Wes Martin would be next up in that regard, followed by Saahdiq Charles, who’s admittedly still learning the position and John Toth, who’s on the practice squad.

Keith Ismael is on San Francisco’s practice squad after he was cut coming out of preseason and Tyler Larsen started the season on the reserve/PUP list as he finishes his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered last year. He’s eligible to return in Week 5.

Just awful news for the Commanders.