The Washington Commanders suffered more injury problems than most last season. After a relatively quiet summer on the health front, things took a disastrous turn on Day 9 of training camp.
Prolific left tackle Laremy Tunsil left practice early after feeling something during a 1-on-1 drill against edge rusher Odafe Oweh. Early indications didn't suggest there was much alarm about the issue, but the mood completely changed after further tests.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the five-time Pro Bowler suffered a torn triceps that will likely require surgery. While the recovery timeline is sketchy, Tunsil is now expected to miss a significant portion of the 2026 campaign.
Commanders get the worst setback imaginable with Laremy Tunsil injury blow
It's hard to overstate what a monumental blow this is to the Commanders. If there was one player they couldn't afford to lose aside from franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, it was Tunsil. And now, those in power must act swiftly to put the right contingencies in place.
Tunsil arrived via trade from the Houston Texans last year, putting together an All-Pro-caliber campaign as all around him seemingly crumbled. The Commanders recognized his importance, giving him a new two-year extension that saw him become the first tackle in NFL history to get a deal worth $30 million per season.
Protecting Daniels is imperative. Tunsil is among the league's most accomplished blindside enforcers, and he'll now miss considerable time. Depending on the severity of the tear, he could even miss the entire 2026 season.
Disaster. An absolute disaster.
With Washington facing concerns at center, the protection is now a glaring issue. Having Tunsil made everything more secure, a lot safer, and provided everyone with a sense of calm. This security blanket has now been ripped from Daniels, and the ramifications could be severe if the right moves aren't made.
The former Ole Miss standout is a franchise cornerstone in every sense of the term. Tunsil's on-field prowess needs no introduction, but his willingness to tutor the likes of Josh Conerly Jr. and Brandon Coleman — two young breakout hopefuls who could potentially move onto the left edge — was even more impressive. Losing him is a hammer blow that throws ambitious bounce-back plans into disarray.
Obviously, more information will come about in the near future. The Commanders won't practice today (Sunday), but head coach Dan Quinn should be able to provide some more clarity when Washington gets back down to business. Even so, this is a major setback whichever way you look at it.
Fans will be hoping for a swift recovery. But for the Commanders, they have to approach this as next man up while also examining any potential outside options who could assist.
However, nobody will compare to Tunsil. It's that simple.
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