Losing new starting center Nick Allegretti to a calf strain on the first day of training camp was not ideal. The Washington Commanders don't believe he will be out for much longer, but they are right to be cautious with the veteran at this stage of preparations.
Even so, a quiet move made before the first day of pads hints that those in power know they might have a problem behind Allegretti on the depth chart.
The Commanders confirmed the signing of veteran center Trey Hill, releasing cornerback Tre Hawkins III to make way for the interior offensive lineman. He has some limited starting experience earlier in his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he hasn't been on the field in a competitive setting since featuring just once in 2024.
Commanders could have a problem brewing behind Nick Allegretti at center
Head coach Dan Quinn outlined that this acquisition wasn't agreed upon because there are more concerns about Allegretti's status. The Commanders thought they needed another center, and that's about it.
But it's hard not to see this as a lack of faith in those manning Allegretti's spot until he gets back.
Julian Good-Jones got a good run with the first-string offense in Allegretti's absence, but the drop-off was pretty drastic. Sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin is being treated like a development project right now, which is fine. The Commanders are also experimenting with Brandon Coleman at center, but he is also competing with Chris Paul for the starting left guard job.
The Commanders are not leaving anything to chance. Hill might be nothing more than a camp body, but his presence should provide enough urgency for Good-Jones and Gulbin to increase their performance levels. And raising competition for places has been general manager Adam Peters' biggest offseason priority.
Again, the doubts around Allegretti's health haven't increased. He'll miss more time this summer, but if there are no setbacks, the Illinois product should be on the field when Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles arrives.
But in terms of the backup options, they remain a work in progress.
The Commanders had their reasons for releasing previous starter Tyler Biadasz. They weren't made public, but the lack of urgency regarding their replacement strategy was the thing above all else that had fans questioning Peters' methods.
Washington has some issues to solve. If Allegretti gets hurt, they may have a big problem on their hands. But there is still time to let things play out before deciding on any further action.
It'll be interesting to see how things unfold in the weeks ahead. But the Commanders cannot sit on their hands if improvements aren't made.
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