Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the next five Commanders’ biggest cap hits for 2022 (No. 11-15).
Which Washington Commanders players will count the largest cap hit for the 2023 NFL season?
This week, Commanders Wire is counting down the top 20 Washington Commanders with the largest cap hit for 2023.
Thus far, we have learned those Commanders who will be the largest cap hits from No. 20 to No. 16.
Now, we look at Washington’s next five biggest cap hits for 2023, beginning at No. 15.
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All salary cap numbers are courtesy of Spotrac.
With Trai Turner missing practice this week, the Commanders could turn to Sam Cosmi at right guard against the Giants. Scott Turner believes it’s essential to get your best five on the field.
The Washington Commanders chose Sam Cosmi in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft to be their future at right tackle. Cosmi immediately stepped into the lineup and became a force as a run blocker. Unfortunately, Cosmi would miss eight games during his rookie season.
Cosmi was back at right tackle in 2022, but a thumb injury forced him to miss the next three games, leading veteran Cornelius Lucas to start at right tackle.
Cosmi returned in Week 8 against the Colts and only played special teams in his first two games back. However, over the last three weeks, Cosmi and Lucas have been splitting reps at right tackle. The Commanders love Cosmi and believe he has a bright future at tackle — or guard.
With right guard Trai Turner missing practice this week, the coaches moved Cosmi inside to right guard.
After Thursday’s practice, Turner was asked about Cosmi potentially playing right guard against the Giants in Week 13.
“I think as the season goes on and you have some guys in and out of the lineup on the offensive line; you want to get your best five guys out there,” Turner said. “So, being able to move Sam around a little bit, having him in there at guard, having that be an option of something that we can do, if that gets our best five out there, that’s something that we will be, be able to do. But we just want to be able to have that option, so we can get him, get him on the field cause a good player. Obviously, him and Big Luke [Cornelius Lucas] have been playing, kind of splitting time. Both [have] been playing pretty well, so we can get him out there together. That’d be something that’d be positive for us.”
Trai Turner hasn’t exactly been his former Pro Bowl self this season. He has improved in recent weeks, which is encouraging, but is he really the best option? In more potentially good news, Wes Schweitzer was designated to return from injured reserve this week. Schweitzer began the season as the starting right guard before his injury.
Cosmi is a dominant run blocker, meaning the Commanders could have a terrific right side of the offensive line with Cosmi and Lucas.
If Cosmi does play right guard Sunday, he could be auditioning to be Washington’s long-term right guard as many believe he has immense potential at guard.
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The Commanders are sticking with Cornelius Lucas at right tackle this week, which is the correct move.
The Washington Commanders will stick with veteran Cornelius Lucas at right tackle for the Week 8 game against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Ron Rivera said on Friday.
Lucas, Washington’s valuable swing tackle over the past three seasons, has started the last three games at right tackle, and Washington’s offensive line has been much better overall. Starter Sam Cosmi had thumb surgery after Week 4 and has not played the last three weeks. He was active last week but is sporting a massive club on his hand.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s coming along,” Rivera said of Cosmi. “Honestly, we’re gonna stick with [Cornelius] Lucas. Mostly because the hand’s clubbed completely, and right now, he’s still kind of feeling his way through it. Hopefully, next week, he’ll have a little bit better. The club won’t be a full club, and he’ll have a little more use of the hand. So, we’re kind of hoping for that, and we’ll go through it. If something crazy were to happen, we can play him as an emergency guy.”
It may be time for Washington to experiment with Cosmi at right guard. This week, right guard Saahdiq Charles missed practice with an illness and lost weight. He is questionable for the game. Charles hasn’t been bad at right guard but hasn’t solidified the position. It sounds like he may miss the game, leading Trai Turner to return to the starting lineup. Turner was bad early this season.
As for Lucas, each time he enters the lineup, he excels. Lucas has been good in pass protection, but he has been dominant as a run blocker this year.
Highest OT run block win rate % in the NFL.
1. Cornelius Lucas (84%)
He's taken advantage of an opportunity and been a flat out stud in the ground game.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) October 25, 2022
With that type of production, Washington can’t put Lucas back on the bench. Cosmi is also a terrific run blocker but sometimes struggles in pass protection. Once he’s fully healthy, don’t be surprised if the Commanders give him a chance at guard.
As for now, Washington’s offensive line is playing better than it has all season, and Lucas is significant reason for that current success.
Was Washington’s Week 6 offensive line performance a sign of things to come?
Heading into the season, the offensive line was expected to be a bright spot for the Washington Commanders. Over the past two years, Washington ended each season as one of the NFL’s top 10 offensive lines.
Things looked different in 2022. Gone was perennial Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff and 2021 starter, left guard Ereck Flowers. Replacing them were veterans Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner. Norwell has struggled at times this season, and Turner has already been benched.
Washington has also dealt with injuries. Center Chase Roullier was lost for the season in Week 2. It’s the second consecutive season that Roullier ended on injured reserve. Also, center/guard Wes Schweitzer landed on IR, and right tackle Sam Cosmi has missed multiple games with an injury.
But perhaps Washington is turning a corner. Pro Football Focus named the Commanders’ offensive line as its offensive line of the week in Week 6:
The Commanders offensive line allowed one sack and three hurries against the Bears on Thursday Night Football, good for the second-best team pass-blocking grade of the week. They played well in the run game, too, putting up a 75.5 team run-blocking grade that ranked third.
Norwell finished with his highest PFF grade of the season in Week 6 at 85.8. Right tackle Cornelius Lucas came in behind Norwell, earning an 81.0 grade.
It wouldn’t be a shock if offensive line coach John Matsko moved Cosmi to guard and kept Lucas in at right tackle. That would fix two positions at once, and some feel Cosmi is better suited at guard.
The Commanders face a talented Green Bay defensive front in Week 7.
This is another difficult blow for Washington’s offensive line.
The Washington Commanders can’t seem to catch a break on the offensive line. Through four weeks, Washington’s offensive line has struggled to protect quarterback Carson Wentz and is also battling injury woes.
Center Chase Roullier was lost for the season at the end of a Week 2 loss, while guard/center Wes Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve over the weekend with a concussion. There is also right guard Trai Turner, who has battled a quad injury since training camp and was benched Sunday.
Now, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic, right tackle Sam Cosmi injured his hand in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys and could miss some time. This comes on the same day as head coach Ron Rivera saying wide receiver Jahan Dotson could miss a “week or two.”
More injury news for the Commanders: RT Sam Cosmi suffered a hand injury in Sunday’s loss at Dallas, per sources. The 2021 second-round pick will be evaluated tomorrow, but there’s a concern he could miss multiple games.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) October 4, 2022
As good as Dotson is, the Commanders should be fine for a couple of weeks without him. After all, they have Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Cam Sims, but losing Cosmi is the latest blow to a beleaguered offensive line.
The good news here is Cornelius Lucas was re-signed in the offseason. You could argue Lucas is one of the NFL’s best reserve offensive tackles. Lucas should improve Washington’s pass blocking, but he isn’t the run blocker that Cosmi is. And with rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. poised to return soon, the Commanders were likely going to commit more to the run.
In only his second NFL season, Cosmi has battled numerous injuries. He was sidelined twice last season with hip and ankle ailments. And in Week 3, he left the game twice but was fine.
Washington hosts the Tennessee Titans Sunday.
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Washington’s offensive line is finally healthy.
Until this week, the Washington Commanders haven’t had their projected offensive line together on the field at the same time. Throughout training camp and the first two weeks of the preseason, all but right tackle Sam Cosmi has missed a portion of camp with an injury.
Guard Trai Turner missed all of camp until this week. Head coach Ron Rivera stated that if this were the regular season, Turner would likely be practicing, but there was no need. Guard Andrew Norwell missed some time over the past week after a dominant performance in Washington’s first preseason game.
Center Chase Roullier began camp on the physically unable to perform list but has slowly worked his way into the lineup and started in last week’s preseason game at Kansas City.
Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. missed last week’s game but is back. Then, top reserves, tackle Cornelius Lucas and guard/center Wes Schweitzer also missed time.
All are back now, just as the Commanders wrap up the preseason against the Ravens on Saturday. It’s unknown which players will suit up on Saturday. Rivera did say starters would play on a “very limited” basis.
While it has been difficult for Rivera and the offensive staff, it has given young players like rookie Chris Paul and third-year pro Saahdiq Charles valuable practice and playing experience.
Rivera praised some of Washington’s young offensive linemen this summer, including Charles, on Thursday.
“Saahdiq’s had a pretty good camp,” Rivera said. “It’s a lot to ask a guy to work all three of those positions, but he’s done a nice job at it. And position flex for a guy is important, and he’s still a young guy, still developing and growing. But the more he knows, I think the better it’ll help him in his game.”
Charles, who played left tackle at LSU, has played tackle and guard in the NFL. That type of versatility makes him valuable, especially on game days.
Over the past two years, Washington began each season with questions about the offensive line. However, by the end of the season, they were ranked among the top 10 offensive lines in the NFL. Offensive line coach John Matsko is one of the best, and Washington’s depth each season contributed to the group’s success.
Barring catastrophic injuries, expect Washington’s offensive line to be a team strength in 2022.
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Dancing and chicken wings for Lucas if the Commanders win.
Who says the preseason doesn’t matter? To the Baltimore Ravens, the preseason certainly matters. After all, the Ravens haven’t lost a preseason game since 2015 — that’s 22 preseason wins in a row.
Baltimore’s opponent this weekend? The Washington Commanders.
The Commanders head into the preseason finale with a record of 0-2. Washington head coach Ron Rivera isn’t too concerned with his team’s preseason record. Rivera is more worried about getting his starters enough work to be sharp in time for Week 1.
However, Ravens coach John Harbaugh sees things differently. Preseason wins matter to him. It’s easy to joke about Baltimore’s preseason winning streak, but it should be noted the Ravens win during the regular season, too.
Could the Commanders be the team to finally end Baltimore’s dominant preseason run?
Washington offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas spoke to the media Tuesday and was asked about breaking Baltimore’s winning streak.
Lucas offered a thoughtful answer.
“Let me think about that; it would be great,” Lucas answered. “Winning is always great. Beating someone who has won 22 preseason games would be great. So yeah, it would be great.”
Whether or not you agree with Lucas, he’s right. You always want to win.
How would Lucas celebrate ending the Ravens’ streak?
“Probably a dance or two, maybe some celebratory chicken wings,” Lucas said.
Now that’s a perfect answer. We need more of Lucas at the podium. Now we just need to know the flavor of those wings — if Washington wins.
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Cornelius Lucas is officially back, and he had a hilarious comment about his free agency.
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The Commanders found last year they really were thankful to have Cornelius Lucas at swing tackle when rookie right tackle Sam Cosmi was injured. Thursday, Washington re-signed Lucas to again be the man counted on to contribute heavily when needed at either tackle spot for Cosmi or Charles Leno.
OT Cornelius Lucas is re-signing with the Washington Commanders, per source. Broad terms: Two years, $8.2 million.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 24, 2022
The Washington offensive line was the team strength in 2021; however, losing Brandon Scherff to the Jaguars (free agent) and releasing left guard Ereck Flowers instantly raised questions and concerns in Commanders fans.
Quickly Washington signed free agent guard Andrew Norwell to replace Flowers. Wes Schweitzer for now is expected to be the starting right guard at the beginning of training camp.
“We won’t have those guys next year, so we’ve got to find replacements for them and that’s what every season boils down to,” Lucas said after signing a two-year contract. “I think we’re going to be ready. Coach (John) Matsko is going to have us ready to go. I’m not worried about it.”
Lucas, when asked said he had “heard from a few teams” and then added, “I picked up a good amount of traction, more than I have in the past. But everyone was faking and booty-shaking and Washington was the only one that came through.”
Lucas, who will be 31 in July, appeared in 15 games, starting 7 in 2021. Undrafted out of Kansas State in 2014, Lucas (6-8, 327) signed with the Lions, playing three seasons in Detroit (2014-16). Then came single seasons with the Rams, Saints and Bears (2017-19). Lucas now enters his third season with Washington (2020-22).
Realistically, the Chicago Bears have helped Washington greatly, with Washington reaping great benefits from the signings of tackles Leno and Lucas.
Cornelius Lucas has started 15 games over the past two seasons in Washington.
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Are the Washington Commanders close to bringing back one of their key free agents? John Keim of ESPN reported Wednesday morning that Washington and offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas were “progressing towards a deal.”
Lucas was one of several free agents Washington wanted to retain. The 6-foot-8, 328-pound Lucas was Washington’s swing tackle the past two seasons. In his first season for the Commanders in 2020, Lucas played in 14 games, making eight starts at left tackle.
Lucas played well at left tackle, but the Commanders preferred him more in the swing tackle role and signed Charles Leno to play left tackle and drafted Sam Cosmi to play right tackle.
Washington and swing OT Cornelius Lucas are progressing towards a deal. Optimism. Could be done today…If/when it becomes finalized, a key piece to Washington's OL depth would return. Has been a solid backup for the Commanders.
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 23, 2022
Lucas would return to his reserve role in 2021, where he again was a factor. Lucas appeared in 15 games, making seven starts at right tackle in place of the injured Cosmi.
Retaining Lucas would be critical for Washington, which has already lost both starting guards in Brandon Scherff and Ereck Flowers. Washington signed Andrew Norwell to replace Flowers, and Wes Schweitzer will get the first chance at stepping in for Scherff.
Taking a look at seven free agent OTs the Colts should consider in 2022.
The Indianapolis Colts will be heading into free agency with plenty of salary-cap space and a massive need at upgrading their left tackle position.
The new league doesn’t begin until the middle of March, and the Colts still have to settle their Carson Wentz situation before making any moves in free agency. But finding a left tackle is high on the list of priorities.
As it currently stands, veteran Eric Fisher is set to be a free agent. He could be re-signed before the new league year arrives or the Colts can wait to test the market.
The list of available free agent offensive tackles isn’t very long. It gets even shorter when realizing the two top options on the market (Terron Armstead and Orlando Brown) won’t be realistic targets for the Colts. They simply can’t invest that much money into the offensive line without it coming at a detriment elsewhere.
As always, we’ll take a look at the available free agents with the mindset of Chris Ballard’s preference for mid-tier options. Here are seven free agents the Colts should consider in 2022:
