The Washington Commanders' sensational 2024 season will continue into the NFC Conference championship game thanks to a stunning victory at the Detroit Lions. But for one influential player, this represented the end of the road this season.
There was a significant amount of concern when prolific interior offensive lineman Sam Cosmi went down in the first half. He got folded up on running back Brian Robinson Jr.'s touchdown from close range. He managed to walk off the field following lengthy on-field assessments but was ruled out soon after.
Everyone associated with the Commanders faced an anxious wait as Cosmi underwent further tests. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the worst-possible outcome, revealing that the former second-round pick out of Texas tore his ACL and is out for the season.
"Yeah, unfortunately some tough news on Sam [Cosmi]. He does have an ACL injury that will knock him out for the rest of the season. So he's been a significant part of what we're doing, especially on the interior. It's a big deal. The ballplayer and the man."Dan Quinn via CBS Sports
Looking at the typical recovery timeline for ACL tears, Cosmi will be out a lot longer than that. He could miss most, if not all, of the 2025 campaign. That is something general manager Adam Peters must take into account during his second recruitment period at the helm.
Commanders must cope without prolific lineman Sam Cosmi
That's for the future. For now, the Commanders must pivot swiftly in pursuit of keeping complications to a minimum following Cosmi's devastating injury blow.
Trent Scott filled in for Cosmi at the Lions and performed well. The veteran normally gets edge responsibilities when called upon, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Washington could decide to ride the hot hand and keep him involved, although counteracting the supreme threat posed by Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis is a different challenge entirely.
If Scott cannot meet expectations, the Commanders need to have contingency plans in place. Even if the options are extremely limited.
Michael Deiter has experience at the guard spots but hasn't done well this season. Chris Paul's barely been involved. The same goes for Julian Good-Jones on the practice squad. That leaves one possibility if Scott cannot provide the consistency needed.
It involves a slight switch for right tackle Andrew Wylie. Placing the Super Bowl winner on the interior with Cornelius Lucas on the edge wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Whether it's something the Commanders legitimately contemplate is another matter.
Regardless of which direction the Commanders go, Cosmi's presence will be sorely missed. He's become one of the team's most consistent players and is among the league's best at his craft. Not having this for a game to decide who represents the NFC in the Super Bowl is a major concern.
The Commanders have to find the right solution for this new complication. Scott's performance at Ford Field was enough to warrant another look this weekend versus the Philadelphia Eagles. But Quinn and his coaching staff must be ready to react accordingly if things don't start well.
Anything less comes with potentially grave consequences attached.