7 Commanders players who need extended reps in 2023 regular-season finale
By Jonathan Eig
![Cole Turner Cole Turner](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4019,h_2260,x_911,y_272/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/61/01hk7gfsj7e755mh3byq.jpg)
Mason Brooks/Nolan Lauffenberg - Commanders OL
This is a twofer. Both of these young offensive linemen are on the practice squad. Therefore, I don’t have much sense of which of the two is more deserving of a shot.
I do not think Saahdiq Charles should be benched. I do think the Washington Commanders should use a rotation at guard to see if either Mason Brooks or Nolan Laufenberg can stand up to quality NFL interior defensive linemen.
This is not usually what a team would do. Usually, you want and need cohesiveness from your offensive line. You don’t rotate players. But I would do it in this particular circumstance.
Brooks is a college offensive tackle who showed some promise during the preseason. I would audition him at the guard spot to see what he’s got.
Laufenberg, a natural guard, has been on the practice squad since - I want to say - 1947. It’s time to put him out there.
I have to admit I was surprised to hear analyst Mark Schlereth proclaim that Charles was a building block for the Commanders’ protection. Four years into his NFL career, that is still debatable.
Maybe he will be here next year - maybe not. On the chance that he is not, we need to see whether one of these two young guys can step in, at least as a reliable backup.