When Nick Allegretti suffered a calf strain that will keep him out for a portion of training camp, it seemed like a good opportunity for the Washington Commanders to give sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin some much-needed experience as the starting center.
Not so fast.
Based on the reports from Day 2 of camp, it was Julian Good-Jones who spent the most time with quarterback Jayden Daniels. He's competing for a roster spot and has more experience, so it's a fair call. But even though Gulbin is still going through a transitional period, it's a clear sign of how much hard work is ahead.
Matt Gulbin has a lot of hard work ahead to build Commanders' trust
The Commanders make all their rookies earn it. Those at the higher end typically get their spots quickly, and those lower down the food chain take a little longer to carve out their path. Gulbin falls into the latter, but there should be plenty of chances to impress over the summer and into the preseason.
Good-Jones getting the nod initially isn't a big deal.
He's one of the hardest workers around, and this gives the Commanders a chance to assess whether he can be a viable backup for Allegretti. Gulbin specializes at center, but he's got the athletic versatility to play anywhere along the interior if needed. That matters with backup linemen, which is what the Michigan State product is for now.
Losing Allegretti would be disastrous. Thankfully, head coach Dan Quinn doesn't believe it's too serious, but this only masks the concerns about the options behind him on the depth chart.
According to reports, Good-Jones struggled against Washington's imposing 3-4 defensive front in team drills, which focused on red-zone work. Gulbin is doing his part, trying to get better every day while waiting for his chance to shine. Until something changes, that's all he can do.
And Gulbin knows it...
Seems a bit early in camp to catchup with a rookie 6th rounder but here's center Matt Gulbin pic.twitter.com/Y6ZzNaBiQl
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) July 30, 2026
The Commanders are constantly assessing what they have and what more may be required to be competitive when the regular season arrives. This was always going to be a gradual process with Gulbin, and the primary focus was always going to be building him gradually to increase his chances of a productive career.
Making the team should be straightforward. Peters isn't going to cut a draft pick without a year of developing them. But it does appear as if Gulbin is in a legitimate competition for the backup center role that most believed was his before camp began.
And if Peters doesn't like what he sees, there is nothing preventing Washington's front-office leader from bringing something else into the mix.
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