The Commanders are turning a key injury into an opportunity at redemption for one recent draft pick at a premium position
Brandon Coleman gets a real chance to show his value once again with a massive start at left tackle against the Eagles on Saturday.
The Washington Commanders are getting ready to continue their NFC East stretch to end the season with a Saturday showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It might seem like the season is over, but there’s still plenty to play for when it comes to veterans on the team fighting for a spot, or younger players looking to show their potential. The roster needs a full evaluation before the offseason begins, and a lot of players could be replaced next season.
One player has a chance to show why he was drafted as high as he was after the Commanders ruled out left tackle Laremy Tunsil with an injury.
Brandon Coleman will get the start at left tackle against the Eagles
It hasn’t been the season Brandon Coleman hoped for after moving from left tackle to left guard after the Commanders traded for Tunsil. Then, he ended up losing his starting spot at left guard to Chris Paul after a rough start to the year.
Tunsil went down last week against the New York Giants, and Coleman had to come in with no notice. He ended up having his best game of the season, and didn’t allow a single pressure or sack in 14 pass-blocking snaps.
Head coach Dan Quinn knows that Coleman has faced adversity this season, but he’s also stepped in when he was needed. Saturday is his chance to shine again at the left tackle spot.
“So, obviously disappointed when Chris [Paul] stepped in and stayed in that space,” Quinn said. “But then I also saw a guy working guard and tackle. He’s been our jumbo. . .I saw good practice habits number one. So, I wasn’t surprised that he performed well because this wasn’t a guy who put his head down and sulked about it. He said, ‘Okay, I’m going to go to work and get to it’. So, it’s not always smooth, but I thought that showed a lot about his resilience to say, ‘Okay, yeah, these are not the circumstances that I want, but I’m going to go battle for it’. And when called on or if called on, like he would show and demonstrate that he was ready, and some people bulls– themselves and say they’ll be ready, but like you have to put the work in to do that. And I’ve certainly seen that from BC.”
What could Brandon Coleman’s future look like?
Coleman playing well this weekend is important for many reasons, despite a lost season. Either Coleman can be a really good backup at left tackle or left guard for the future, or he could be a real trade piece in the offseason if the right offer comes along.
It’s hard to find a versatile player who’s reliable at a premium position like an offensive lineman, so Coleman can have a lot of value here, or somewhere else. Adam Peters has a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason, and they don’t have many players that could net a return in draft capital outside of Coleman and Daron Payne. The Eagles have a lot of talent on the defensive line, so Coleman will get a tough test on Saturday to add to his resume.
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