Washington Commanders newcomer suffers season-ending injury in preseason game vs Patriots, leaving another addition to be made
The Commanders suffer another blow, and a spot remains open
The Washington Commanders took a tough loss in their first preseason game against the New England Patriots on Friday, and the team took another blow on the field that we didn’t know about.
Head coach Dan Quinn talked to the media before practice on Sunday and gave an update on an offensive lineman who went down in the game. Commanders’ newcomer Lucas Niang tore his ACL, and that leaves another roster spot needing to be filled on the offensive line.
Tough break for a player with a lot of potential
Niang just signed with the Commanders on July 30th when Nate Herbig unexpectedly retired, and his start to the preseason didn’t go according to plan. The coaching staff has been impressed with what they’ve seen from Niang, and he could’ve fought for a depth spot at left tackle, which is still wide open behind Laremy Tunsil. The potential has always been there for Niang, but so have the injuries.
Niang spent four seasons with the Chiefs as a third-round pick in 2020, but the injuries always found a way to throw off any hopes of him developing. He opted out of his rookie season, which was the COVID season, and when he did return, he only started seven games until multiple injuries piled up. His season came to an end when he tore his pectoral muscle in Week 17, and he never fully came back as a starter.
Still, he is only 26 years old, and the Commanders tried to unlock his potential before he suffered the ACL tear. His 6-foot-6, 315lbs frame had me intrigued to see him on the field, and I’m hoping he can get healthy and stay healthy while he’s still young. The Commanders need to add a body to the roster now, though.
Option available for the Commanders
Luckily, Adam Peters has built the roster with flexibility so Andrew Wylie or Trent Scott can fill in at multiple positions, including left tackle if it’s ever needed. They still have a roster spot to fill, and a younger option is available if they want to go that route. Jedrick Wills is still a free agent, and having him learn with Laremy Tunsil like Josh Conerly Jr. could go a long way in helping the 26-year-old veteran.
Preseason injuries are the worst part of the offseason, and you hate to see someone with so much potential go down with an injury again. The roster has been built to withstand an injury to the depth of the offensive line, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Peters adds someone like Wills with the spot open.
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