The Commanders have a 313-pound hole in their offensive line. Coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday that five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil will undergo surgery this week to repair the triceps he tore during practice last week.
With Tunsil sidelined, it’s Brandon Coleman’s time to shine. The third-year lineman will take over at left tackle for the foreseeable future.
Tunsil, 32, is widely expected to miss the bulk of the upcoming season as he recovers from the injury. The Commanders won’t put a timeline on his return until after the surgery.
For now, Washington is focused on replacing its anchor on the offensive line.
“The on-field portion speaks for itself; this is a great player,” Quinn said, highlighting Tunsil’s elite reputation as a pass protector. “The off-field portion is also significant, just because of his connection with his teammates and how he interacts with them.”
“It’s tough. Lead dog in the room, guy that leads by example every day with how his process is,” fellow lineman Trent Scott said. “Tough to see a guy that put all that work in go down like that.”
It’ll be Coleman’s responsibility to protect star quarterback Jayden Daniels’ blindside while Tunsil is sidelined.
It isn’t a totally foreign assignment for the 25-year-old. Coleman spent his rookie season as Washington’s left tackle with Daniels under center. The TCU product didn’t win any accolades, but he was solid enough to help the Commanders reach the NFC championship game.
Even after he was relegated to a backup last season and spent the start of this year’s training camp in a battle with Chris Paul for the starting left guard spot, the Commanders’ brass never lost faith in Coleman. Quinn and general manager Adam Peters have often showered him with praise.
“He’s played a lot of winning football at left tackle here,” Quinn said. “We know that he’s ready for it. He’s put in an excellent offseason; the team’s very confident.”
The team’s support has left Coleman ready to kick back outside without missing a step. It’s like riding a bike, the lineman said. A high-stakes, incredibly demanding bike.
“It’s always great when they trust you like that. I have a season under my belt; last season I had some games, so I’m comfortable over there,” Coleman said. “I’m fully confident in them and them in me. That helps you when you come out here and get under your feet. It’s been a smooth transition, kind of like riding a bike.”
The versatile Coleman, like teammate Josh Conerly Jr., spent time training with Tunsil in Alabama this offseason. That meant trekking his wife into “the middle of nowhere” for a time. Anything to improve his craft.
“She understood; it’s really seeing how one of the greatest tackles to ever do it does it,” Coleman said of the offseason work with Tunsil. “Like, how do I need to live to give myself a chance to be like that guy?”
Step one revolved around ensuring that his diet was up to par with a nutritionist and personal chef. The right strength trainers and one-on-one coaches followed. Coleman came into the league with a unique level of strength and speed for a lineman. But refining the techniques that lead to a long career has required constant work.
Coleman, who enters his third season as a professional, is removed from the jitters that accompanied his rookie season. He rode the proverbial roller coaster with Washington during an electric 2024 and an abysmal 2025.
“With what that looked like, you want to fight back,” Quinn said. “That’s the type of offseason he’s had. That’s why he’s been off to a very good start at left guard. When you go through tough things, you want to come out the other side stronger, harder. Learn the lessons.”
Coleman’s done that, according to his coach. Now he has to show it on the field.
Washington has not added any competition for him at left tackle. Veteran Andrew Wylie, who backs up guard Sam Cosmi and starting right tackle Conerly on the right side of the line, would be the Commanders’ next man up behind Coleman.
But, despite Washington adding depth pieces at center and guard, Quinn reported feeling comfortable with relying on Coleman while Tunsil recovers.
The Commanders’ offseason competitions intensify over the next week with questions remaining about who will start at center, safety and linebacker. The team will welcome the Miami Dolphins to its facility in Ashburn, Virginia, for a joint practice on Wednesday before the preseason opener on Friday night.
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