When the Washington Commanders revealed that Andrew Wylie would be starting at the right guard position, most fans thought Nick Allegretti would be switching to a backup role. As it turned out, the coaching staff had something different in mind.
And it sent shockwaves through the organization.
The Commanders opted to make Brandon Coleman inactive for their Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 2024 third-round selection had been nursing a shoulder issue, but he was a full participant in Friday's practice and didn't carry an injury designation into the clash.
Commanders' Brandon Coleman facing uncertain future after stunning demotion
This was a head-scratcher, to put it mildly. Nicki Jhabvala from The Athletic revealed that the decision was not injury-related, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. That makes Coleman a healthy scratch, which comes with potentially severe ramifications attached.
A team spokesperson said it was the coach's decision to keep Brandon Coleman down. Not injury related. Interesting ... https://t.co/NkWiL51NfS
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 21, 2025
Head coach Dan Quinn will probably reveal more after the game. But from the outside looking in, this represents a damning indictment of how Coleman's switch to the interior is being perceived.
It's been a rough start for Coleman, but he's not alone in that regard. The former TCU standout's 31.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 79th out of 89 qualifying guards. His 58.9 run-blocking grade is average, although he has yet to give up a sack or a penalty in 2025.
That wasn't enough to keep his place in the lineup. The Commanders will move forward with Chris Paul as the starting left guard. George Fant and Trent Scott were also active with the offensive line in flux, which is a disaster waiting to happen just three games into the season.
This is a brutal reality check for Coleman. Hopes were extremely high around the second-year pro this summer, but the Commanders placed him on an extremely short leash. And with the Raiders' defensive front boasting enough difference-makers to cause concern, the coaching staff opted to go with experience.
Whether this becomes a longer-term arrangement remains to be seen. Coleman cannot wallow in self-pity, so adding some extra urgency towards improving will be advantageous. This isn't a complete catastrophe unless he makes it one, so a massive response is needed in the face of adversity.
Otherwise, this absence becomes a much bigger problem.