The Washington Commanders are hoping to put together a bounce-back campaign in 2026, but in order to accomplish that, the team needs to stay much healthier than it was last year. It’s only training camp, but so far, the Commanders look good in the injury department, but that could obviously change in the blink of an eye.
At Saturday’s practice, a concerning scene unfolded involving five-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil. As the team’s starting left tackle, Tunsil is a very important piece of Washington’s offensive line, but he was seen walking off the field with the assistance of the athletic training staff before practice wrapped up, quickly raising some fears among fans everywhere.
Laremy Tunsil Leaves Commanders Practice Early With New Injury
The No. 13 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Tunsil initially spent the first three seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins before he got traded to the Houston Texans. During his six-year stint there, Tunsil turned himself into one of the top left tackles in the league, as he earned Pro Bowl selections in all but one campaign with the Texans.
Tunsil was traded again last offseason to help shore up the Commanders’ offensive line, and even though he turned in a strong year, it didn’t matter because of how many injuries the team was dealing with elsewhere on offense. Missing three games along the way, Tunsil wasn’t immune to the injury bug himself, but when he was on the field, he was one of Washington’s better players.
Entering the 2026 campaign, Tunsil will reprise his role as the Commanders’ starting left tackle, with the team hoping the offense can return to the form it enjoyed in 2024 during Jayden Daniels’ first year under center. Washington is going to need Tunsil on the field, though, which is why his departure from practice with what appeared to be a stinger has some fans on edge for the time being.
“Commanders LT Laremy Tunsil walking off with athletic trainers after getting dinged in 1-on-1s vs. Odafe Owen. Looked like a stinger maybe,” Mike Garafolo of NFL Network shared in a post on X.
Commanders Seem to Dodge a Bullet With Laremy Tunsil Injury
GettyCommanders’ offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil was forced out of practice with an injury on Saturday
If Tunsil is just dealing with a stinger, that would be a bullet dodged for the Commanders, as that would only hold him out of practice for a few days at most. Since it is still only August, the team is going to be understandably cautious with its players, especially those who are capable of playing at the sort of level Tunsil is capable of.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tunsil miss a bit of time over the coming days, but assuming he didn’t suffer a more serious injury, this shouldn’t be a problem for Washington moving forward. As is the case with all injuries, Tunsil’s status will be worth monitoring, but it seems like this is only a minor concern for now.
Commanders’ Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman Leaves Practice With Concerning Injury