Tag: Cornelius Lucas

Commanders’ Cornelius Lucas putting in the extra work

In his fifth season with the Commanders, Cornelius Lucas still getting the job done.

Dan Quinn was pleased with the play of his offensive line on Sunday.

That is no surprise, considering the Commanders’ line pounded the Titans all day, accumulating 267 rushing yards on 45 running carries.

Sunday, the Commanders were without starting right tackle Andrew Wylie, who suffered a concussion in last week’s home loss to the Cowboys. Trent Scott had played in substitution for Wylie against the Cowboys.

However, in this game against the Titans, the Commanders chose Lucas to start at right tackle. He not only started but also played on every offensive snap, all 83 of them.

“Yeah, and before you mentioned him, he was one of the first [people] I was going to bring up was Lucas,” said Quinn. So, for a good bit of the season, he’s been playing mostly at left tackle. So, this week in practice for him to after practice, before practice, getting in extra work with [T/G] Sam Cosmi. You could see this was a player that was really putting in the details to get it right.”

Lucas, thus far, had been playing over at left tackle this season. He started early and has swapped time with rookie Brandon Coleman. But during the week, he was putting in the extra work to prepare himself for playing the right tackle spot.

“Now changing to another side to go, that part was going to be a big deal, because he himself did the extra with Sam. ‘I want more combinations, I want more stuff to go.’ So, they really did a nice job of staying on blocks, getting to the next level and the tight ends were a big part of this as well.

Perhaps with the bye week now finally here, the Commanders can get Wylie back and healthy. In addition, they now know their swing tackle, Lucas, is fit and ready to take on either tackle position.

Commanders RT Andrew Wylie departs game with injury

Commanders RT leaves game with head injury.

The Washington Commanders are locked into a tougher-than-anticipated battle against the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium. At halftime, the teams were tied 3-3.

The offense has struggled, as quarterback Jayden Daniels has been under heavy pressure, and the Commanders have failed to adjust.

Washington lost running back Brian Robinson Jr. to an ankle injury in the first half. He later returned to carry the ball three times but later departed again.

The Commanders are now down another offensive starter. Right tackle Andrew Wylie left the game in the third quarter and is being evaluated for a possible concussion.

Trent Scott replaced Wylie at right tackle and immediately allowed pressure. The team officially announced that Wylie is out and will not return.

The Commanders will need to go the rest of the way with Scott at right tackle, unless they want to play Cornelius Lucas or Brandon Coleman on the right side. Lucas has plenty of experience playing on both sides in his career.

Positive injury news for Commanders ahead of Thursday Night Football

Commanders get a key starter back for Thursday night vs. Eagles.

The Washington Commanders will have running back Brian Robinson Jr. on the field for Thursday’s huge matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders released their final injury report Wednesday, and Robinson received no injury designation for the game, meaning he’ll play.

Robinson has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and was also limited by a knee injury that cost him the Week 6 game against Baltimore. Despite missing three games, Robinson has rushed for 461 yards and six touchdowns.

Robinson’s return means the Commanders will have their entire backfield in action vs. an excellent Philadelphia defense against the run. Washington’s rushing attack has been most effective when Robinson and Austin Ekeler were available. Robinson’s return allows offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to be more creative with Ekeler.

In three career games against the Eagles, Robinson has rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

In more concerning news, Washington’s top three offensive tackles are listed as questionable: Brandon Coleman (shoulder), Andrew Wylie (shoulder), and Cornelius Lucas (ankle).

Lucas has missed the past two games, while Wylie missed Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh. Head coach Dan Quinn spoke to the media before practice and seemed positive about Lucas and Wylie but did not mention Coleman.

 

 

Commanders’ injury news: Will RB Brian Robinson Jr. play vs. Eagles?

What is Brian Robinson Jr’s status?

The Washington Commanders will be without cornerback Marshon Lattimore for Thursday night’s NFC East showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, Washington could be getting a top offensive starter back for Thursday.

Head coach Dan Quinn said the Commanders increased Robinson’s work in practice, which he handled well. Washington’s final injury report will be released later on Wednesday, with Robinson likely being listed as questionable again. Recently, the Commanders listed him as questionable and tested him on the field ahead of the game before ruling him out.

Robinson sounded positive about his chances of playing with reporters.

Quinn also discussed offensive tackles Andrew Wylie and Cornelius Lucas, saying both did a “good job” during Wednesday’s practice. Lucas missed the previous two games due to an ankle injury. Before the injury, he’d rotated with rookie Brandon Coleman at left, where both have played well. If Lucas plays, he’s likely back as Washington’s swing tackle.

Wylie was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Steelers but appears on track to return against the Eagles. Trent Scott started in his place at right tackle.

We’ll continue to update you on Washington’s injury situation before Thursday night’s big game.

Steelers to face backup OTs vs Commanders

T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith could feast on the Commanders backup offensive tackles.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers square off against the Washington Commanders on Sunday they will be facing a pair of backup offensive tackles. Washington will be minus starting left tackle Cornelius Lucas and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie which should make life easier for Steelers edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

The Steelers live and die by the pass rush on defense and have to square off against rookie Jayden Daniels. Daniels has been the best rookie in the NFL this season and one of the top quarterbacks due in large part to his ability to run the football. This means despite the advantage the Steelers have on the outside, they must rush the passer with discipline to keep Daniels contained.

 

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Commanders announce roster moves with injuries at offensive tackle

The Commanders add veteran OT depth.

The Washington Commanders were busy making moves on their day. With injuries to their top two left tackles, Brandon Coleman (concussion) and Cornelius Lucas (ankle), the Commanders have only two healthy tackles on the roster: Right tackle Andrew Wylie and backup Trent Scott.

The Commanders first worked out former Patriots tackle Yodny Cajuste. Washington didn’t initially sign Cajuste but did sign veteran Bobby Hart to the practice squad. Hart, 30, was a seventh-round pick by the New York Giants in 2015 and has spent time with six different NFL teams, including three stints in Buffalo.

Hart has plenty of experience, having played in 98 career games with 67 starts. He was Cincinnati’s right tackle for three seasons from 2018-20, starting every game but three.

Washington released OT Anim Dankwah from the practice squad in a corresponding move. The 6-foot-8, 353-pound Dankwah signed with the practice squad last month. He’s an undrafted rookie from nearby Howard University.

Coleman missed last week’s game, while Lucas left in the second half with an ankle injury. The Commanders have offered no further updates, but practice is set to return on Wednesday; we should know more then.

Cornelius Lucas injury vs Bears: Latest news on Commanders OT

Commanders lose left tackle Cornelius Lucas to injury.

The Washington Commanders entered Sunday’s game without rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman. Coleman suffered a concussion in last week’s win over Carolina. Coleman, a third-round pick from TCU, had split first-team reps with veteran Cornelius Lucas through Washington’s first seven games.

That meant it was Lucas’ job to go the distance against the Bears. However, in the third quarter, Lucas injured his ankle and headed to the locker room.

Cornelius Lucas injury update

How long will Cornelius Lucas be out?

The Commanders officially say Lucas is questionable to return.

Commanders left tackle depth chart

  • LT1: Brandon Coleman or Cornelius Lucas
  • LT2: Trent Scott

Since Scott entered the game, he’s been called for two false start penalties.

Veteran OT says Commanders feel ‘untouchable, unstoppable’

The veteran OT says the Commanders feel “untouchable, unstoppable.”

The vibes surrounding the Washington Commanders are high. On Sunday, Washington defeated the Carolina Panthers 40-7, but they lost rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels after the first possession.

Veteran Marcus Mariota relieved Daniels and, after a slow start, looked as good as he had in years, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Sure, Carolina is arguably the NFL’s worst team, but previous versions of the Commanders couldn’t do what the 2024 version did on Sunday. One player who has been around a while understands there’s something different about the 2024 Commanders.

Veteran left tackle Cornelius Lucas is an 11-year NFL veteran with Washington since 2020. After Sunday’s win, Lucas was asked how he felt about the Commanders.

“Feels different,” Lucas said. “Feels a lot different from the other previous four seasons I was here. Feel untouchable, unstoppable, especially after losing 5 (Daniels) and seeing Marcus come in and pick up right where he left off.”

Why does Lucas think the Commanders are playing so well right now?

“Everything,” he responded. “The changes from top to bottom. The mentality from top to bottom. Can’t really put my finger on one thing. I feel it’s the entire program, the entire setup.”

It’s special to hear these quotes from battle-tested veterans like Lucas. Lucas had the opportunity to head elsewhere in the offseason but chose to return to the Commanders under the new regime. He’s now an integral part to one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

 

Commanders OL continues to have some question marks

The final two preseason games are huge for several offensive linemen.

Two weeks ago all the word out of Ashburn was so positive regarding Brandon Coleman.

Coleman had been taking reps at right tackle and left tackle. He was moving better than any of the tackles on the current roster. Everything was said to be going well for him.

Commanders fans were excited, and word was spreading that the Commanders had found their franchise quarterback and franchise left tackle in Adam Peters’ first draft as Commanders general manager.

12 days later, however, offensive tackle has become again a position of uncertainty and concern.

Head coach Dan Quinn stated Coleman was day-to-day or week-to-week with a pectoral/shoulder issue. Coleman will most likely not see action in Miami this week.

As much as we would rather see him in the lineup, what’s more important is to allow Coleman to heal and be ready to get some good reps in preparation for the Sept. 8 season opener in Tampa.

The other four starting spots on the line are pretty much settled. Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, and Andrew Wylie are still probably upgrades from the 2023 season.

Going a bit further, if the Commanders were to keep nine or ten linemen, seven of the spots seem assured. In addition to the four mentioned above, there are Cornelius Lucas and Coleman at left tackle and then Michael Deiter, the top reserve inside lineman who has been getting the most reps at both guard and center.

This leaves two or three spots about which we can not yet be certain. Last year, we were told that Mason Brooks was really tough and aggressive and might develop nicely. Brooks was cut on Wednesday.

So, this week, watch for the play of reserves Ricky Stromberg (C/G), Julian Good-Jones (G), Chris Paul (G), and J.C. Hassenauer (G) and tackles Braeden Daniels, Trent Scott, Armani Taylor-Prioleau, and David Nwogwugwu.

Commanders rookie OT Brandon Coleman looking the part as potential Week 1 starter

The rookie offensive tackle has a big day on Thursday.

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters was widely praised for the 2024 NFL draft. For one, Peters landed Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick, but other picks, such as Johnny Newton and Mike Sainristil, earned him leaguewide praise.

The one knock on Peters was what some believed was his inaction at offensive tackle. The Commanders did not sign an offensive tackle in free agency, only bringing back veteran Cornelius Lucas. While Peters tried to move back into the first round, the price was too high, and he stayed put.

So, with the second pick of the third round, the Commanders selected Brandon Coleman of TCU. This wasn’t a reach as Washington clearly liked Coleman, bringing him in for a pre-draft visit.

Scouts were split on Coleman. He looked more like a guard but possessed the arm length and athleticism to play tackle. Peters made it clear the Commanders believed Coleman was a tackle.

Throughout the first week of training camp, Coleman has consistently worked with the first-team offense, either at left or right tackle. He’s drawn praise, but none of that really mattered until the pads came on. Coleman had a solid day in the first padded practice earlier this week.

On Thursday, Washington had its second day in pads, and Coleman stood out in one-on-one drills.

While people in attendance often see or interpret different things, Finlay’s opinion seemed to be the consensus on Coleman. The rookie more than held his own against Washington’s talented defensive line.

Two days in pads means nothing right now. However, the Commanders have consistently worked Coleman with the first team, which would indicate they view him as a starter. Will it be on the left or right side?

Washington could go with the veteran Lucas at left tackle early in the season and opt for Coleman on the right side, replacing Andrew Wylie. Wylie struggled last season and has been sidelined at times this summer with what he described as “tightness.”

If Peters emerges from the 2024 NFL draft with a quarterback and starting left tackle, fans will be ready to induct him into the Ring of Honor this season.

The true test will be when the games begin, but Coleman couldn’t have started his NFL career any stronger.