The Washington Commanders were forced to move Brandon Coleman to blindside after losing five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps at training camp. Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters were confident in the player and chose not to bring in outside help to fix the issue.
This faith hasn't been repaid.
Coleman is struggling. He is quickly becoming a liability the Commanders cannot afford in their precarious situation, and tough conversations must now take place about whether taking him out of the firing line is best for this franchise.
Commanders must think seriously about benching Brandon Coleman
The Commanders don't exactly have the best depth options. But something must be done.
The 2024 third-round pick faced a tough challenge in Week 9. The Los Angeles Rams have a prolific defensive front, and they were getting All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett back from injury to further complicate matters.
A daunting test awaited Coleman, and both edges on Washington's protection inevitably crumbled.
Josh Conerly Jr. was disappointing on the right-hand side. He's a first-round pick with talent, so the Commanders will probably ride the ups and downs before deciding on the long-term plan.
Coleman's situation is more precarious. And even though he was thrust into a role he might not be best suited to, benching him should be a distinct possibility after another lackluster display.
The Commanders have a short week before traveling to the New York Giants for Thursday Night Football. There is no time to implement massive changes, so Coleman should be in the lineup at MetLife Stadium.
Commanders' lack of depth might give Brandon Coleman a reprieve, but something has to change
But if he struggles again, especially with pre-snap penalties, the Commanders could use their mini bye week to replace him.
The big question is how the Commanders would go about it.
No one knows when, or if, Tunsil will return this season. With no real urgency when the team isn't in contention, the Commanders will have to go in another direction until the elite blindside force is ready.
Andrew Wylie played most of his career at right tackle, and he gets exposed on an island. That makes this a non-starter, leaving the option to call up Esa Pole from the practice squad to start in Coleman's place.
Pole started four games and featured five times for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He didn't do enough to make their roster this summer, but the Washington State product is an imposing figure with the tools needed to provide relief.
It's a long shot. But based on how Coleman is playing, it's not like things could get much worse.
Coleman might be switched inside in favor of Chris Paul rather than being benched, but giving him some time away from the field could be the best solution.
Anyone is going to have a hard time against Garrett. However, the fact that he was victimized so frequently suggests that Coleman's self-confidence is dwindling.
This is also Year 3 for the player. The mistakes that were brushed aside during his rookie rollercoaster are not being tolerated now.
And if this same concerning trend continues, it won't just be Coleman's place in the starting lineup under threat.
His long-term future in Washington will be, too.
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