Tag: Tyler Biadasz

Multiple Commanders dealing with illnesses ahead of Week 16 showdown vs. Eagles

While other players are now sick, Tyler Biadasz will be back vs. Eagles.

On Sunday morning, the Washington Commanders were surprised to learn that center Tyler Biadasz had woken up with an illness. The Commanders immediately added him to the injury report and worked him out before the game against the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately, Biadasz wasn’t able to go, and Washington missed him.

While the Commanders won, the offensive line wasn’t the same without Biadasz. Quarterback Jayden Daniels was sacked a season-high eight times, and the running game, outside of Daniels, never got going.

Good news: Biadasz will be on the field Sunday when Washington hosts the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles.

“Absolutely, I’m playing, I’m playing,” Biadasz said about Sunday. “You can’t get me out of this game.”

While Biadasz will return, Biadasz’s illness has spread through the locker room. On Thursday, right guard Sam Cosmi and tight end John Bates missed practice due to illness. With Zach Ertz in the concussion protocol, Bates will play even more against the Eagles, while Cosmi is Washington’s top offensive lineman. Cosmi also missed Wednesday’s practice.

Sunday is still a few days away, and there’s a good chance Cosmi and Bates will be fine. However, now the concern will be the illness making its way through the entire locker room.

 

Saints announce inactive players for Week 15 vs. Washington Commanders

The New Orleans Saints announced their inactive players for Week 15’s game with the Washington Commanders, who made a last-second decision on their starting center:

The New Orleans Saints announced their inactive players for Week 15’s game with the Washington Commanders, who had to make a last-second decision on their starting center Tyler Biadasz after he contracted an illness. He was a late addition to the injury report and officially labeled questionable, but wasn’t able to play.

As for the Saints? They had already ruled out starting quarterback Derek Carr (left hand/concussion), with a couple of players also unavailable on injured reserve in third-year linebacker D’Marco Jackson (ankle) and rookie wide receiver Bub Means (ankle). Washington put wide receiver Noah Brown on their own injured reserve list after he suffered a significant kidney injury.

Here are the full inactive lists from each team:

New Orleans Saints inactive players

  • QB Derek Carr
  • RB Jordan Mims
  • WR Mason TIpton
  • DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
  • DT Khristian Boyd

Washington Commanders inactive players

  • C Tyler Biadasz
  • WR K.J. Osborn
  • CB Michael Davis
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • K Zane Gonzalez
  • DT Phidarian Mathis
  • QB Jeff Driskel (emergency QB3)

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Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy wants these 2 Commanders to have a terrible game Sunday

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy hopes these two Commanders struggle on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders (7-4) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) in a battle of NFC East rivals heading in opposite directions.

The game features a reunion of sorts for several Commanders going up against their former team. Washington head coach Dan Quinn is in his first year as Washington’s head after three seasons as the Cowboys defensive coordinator.

Quinn didn’t come to Washington alone. Former Cowboys Dante Fowler Jr., Dorance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, and Noah Brown are playing pivotal roles in the Commanders’ remarkable turnaround.

As the Cowboys prepared for Sunday’s game against Washington, head coach Mike McCarthy spoke about some of his former players.

“Those guys went with an opportunity that they felt they needed to do,” McCarthy said on Wednesday via Garrett Podell of CBS Sports.

“Everybody’s situation is different. I’m proud of those guys. They’re playing very well. Dante’s off the charts. DA is so damn consistent in the way he’s played. The video I’ve seen of him, I’ve been very impressed. That’s how this game works. The financial component, it changes your team every year. That’s why this is always such a challenge. It changes the dynamic.”

McCarthy then joked that he hoped Armstrong and Fowler were terrible on Sunday.

“I’m happy that they got a great opportunity, and I hope they play like s–t Sunday.”

McCarthy was clearly having fun. He coached Armstrong for four seasons and Fowler for two. McCarthy didn’t mention Biadasz and Brown; he was more specifically discussing Washington’s defense.

Fowler is having a career renaissance with the Commanders, leading the team with 8.5 sacks, while Armstrong has stabilized the defensive end position. Fowler is on pace to set a new career-high in sacks.

Steelers-Commanders matchups to watch: Tyler Biadasz vs Cam Heyward

With the Steelers’ Week 10 game growing ever closer, one key matchup to look out for will be C Tyler Biadasz vs. DT Cam Heyward.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough matchup ahead in their Week 10 game against the Washington Commanders. One of the key matchups that could decide the contest will be between Commanders center Tyler Biadasz and Steelers DT Cameron Heyward.

Heyward has been turning back the hands of father time in 2024, putting together one of his best seasons to date at 35-years old. He currently has 29 total pressures, seven QB hits, and five sacks through eight games in the 2024 season.

Biadasz is perhaps the Commanders’ most underrated offensive player, as  Washington’s center has allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits, and six pressures on 333 passing plays. Averaging one pressure per 55.5 passing downs is an impressive stat, and Heyward will have his work cut out for him on Sunday.

Can Heyward carry his team to their seventh victory in 2024, or will Biadasz stop their momentum in its tracks? Steelers fans‘ eyes will be glued to this battle in the trenches and can watch the action unfold on November 10th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Why Tyler Biadasz is an important leader for the Commanders

Biadasz is one of Washington’s early-season unsung heroes.

When you think of Commanders’ offensive leaders, you might actually miss one of the more important leaders on the 2024 team.

Head coach Dan Quinn spoke with the media on Monday about center Tyler Biadasz and his importance in leading this offense in 2024. Biadasz signed as a free agent in March, having played his first four seasons (202-23) with the Cowboys. The veteran center has been important for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“One of the challenging parts about playing center, on so many of these plays you have to target who belongs to whom,” said Quinn. “On a traditional offense, you have a little bit more time. You can get the line of scrimmage; this is what I see. If they shift, you change it. When you’re going more quickly, those are when you really have to process quickly like a QB. So, on the runs and the passes, Tyler’s right in the middle of all that to make sure the declaration’s right, who we’re going to, how we’re going to go.”

The offense hummed like a well-oiled machine against the Cardinals on Sunday, leading to a 42-14 win. Quinn thought Biadasz did a great job with the Cardinals changing fronts.

“For a team like Arizona who plays multiple fronts, has a good blitz package and a safety that can just honestly show up in a blitz from just about damn near anywhere, he’s somebody he had to keep an eye on.”

Quinn also talked about how Biadasz is doing a good job getting out in Washington’s wide runs.

“I thought him pulling and being on the move there were some good plays that I saw on that, and that’s another added part of things when you get another big guy out on the edge on some of the lead blocking that went to Brian, I thought that was a big deal.”

GM Adam Peters’s first three moves with the Commanders involved two offensive linemen. Peters released OT Charles Leno, TE Logan Thomas, and C Nick Gates.

To address their offensive line, Peters signed Biadasz, G Nick Allegretti, and long snapper Tyler Ott in the first week of free agency.

It’s early, but Peters’ moves appear to be paying off.

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.

Which under-the-radar player could shape the Commanders’ 2024 season?

Which under-the-radar player could have a massive impact on the 2024 season?

When you think about which players could shape the Washington Commanders’ 2024 season, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is the first to come to your mind.

The dynamic Daniels can change games with his arm or legs. His presence alone will dramatically improve Washington’s offense in 2024.

Outside of Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen, Frankie Luvu, Daron Payne and Austin Ekeler are viewed as potential game-changers for the Commanders in 2024.

However, there’s another player who could shape Washington’s season: Center Tyler Biadasz.

CBS Sports named 50 under-the-radar players who could shape the 2024 season, and Biadasz was one of those names.

22. Tyler Biadasz (C), Commanders: Dan Quinn brought several former Cowboys with him to the Commanders, but Biadasz has the chance to be the most impactful. Biadasz is dependable (16+ starts each of the last three seasons) and talented (2022 Pro Bowl), and he’ll play a big role in No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels’ development. While Washington’s quarterback carousel gets the most attention, center (six different players in the past two seasons) has been a big issue, too

This is quietly a smart pick. The Commanders absolutely needed to upgrade the center position in the offseason with a reliable and experienced starter. They did that by adding Biadasz, a four-year starter in Dallas and a former Pro Bowler. In addition, stealing Biadasz away from a division rival was a good move.

Anytime you have a rookie quarterback, it’s always important to pair him with a veteran center. For one, it allows the center to handle protections until the quarterback is ready and you can also expect much cleaner snap exchanges. This offseason, and so far through training camp, Biadasz has worked with Daniels on building a rapport, and they appear to be off to a great start.

Warren Sharp isn’t high on the Commanders offensive line in 2024

But the Commanders are ranked second in the NFC East.

The Washington Commanders will likely begin the 2024 NFL season with three new starters on the offensive line. That’s good news, right? When you think of Washington’s offensive line last season, you immediately have this image of quarterback Sam Howell going down.

When you assess Howell’s 2023 season, you’d quickly realize that all those sacks he took weren’t on the offensive line. Some were on Howell, some on the offensive line, and some on former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offensive scheme.

Howell, Bieniemy, and his scheme are gone. Kliff Kingsbury is the new offensive coordinator, and rookie Jayden Daniels is the new quarterback.

The only returning offensive line starters are right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Andrew Wylie. There’s a good chance Wylie would’ve been replaced if general manager Adam Peters hadn’t needed to replace so many other positions. However, the Commanders believe a different voice, a different offense, can help Wylie. Remember, Washington led the NFL in passing attempts last season, often choosing not to run even in close games.

The Commanders’ three new offensive line starters are center Tyler Biadasz, left guard Nick Allegretti and left tackle Cornelius Lucas. Lucas is battling third-round rookie Brandon Coleman for the starting left tackle spot.

Analytics guru Warren Sharp recently released his 2024 NFL preview, and it’s clear that he doesn’t rate Washington’s offensive line highly, ranking them 27th in the NFL.

The good news? The Commanders are ranked ahead of the Cowboys after stealing away Biadasz — a four-year starter in Dallas.

Not only is Washington ranked ahead of Dallas, but another NFC East rival, the New York Giants, is ranked dead last. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are ranked fourth.

The Commanders offensive line could keep them from making a dramatic offensive improvement in 2024. There is a lot of hype around Daniels, but Washington must keep him upright. Opinions are mixed on Coleman. While most everyone liked him as a prospect, many saw him more at guard. Peters and the Commanders see Coleman as a tackle, and he split time with Lucas in the offseason program at left tackle.

Washington hopes Coleman is the answer. If he’s not, it could be another long season for the Commanders. As far as the interior offensive line goes, Washington is in good hands. Cosmi is a future All-Pro, while Biadasz is solid and reliable, exactly what you need when you’re starting a rookie quarterback.

Commanders have one of the NFL’s most glaring roster holes ahead of training camp

The Commanders still have one glaring question mark ahead of training camp.

New Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters knew he needed to fix the offensive line during his first offseason. The good news is Peters had around $90 million in salary cap space and nine picks in the 2024 NFL draft to improve a unit that allowed 65 sacks last season.

The Commanders signed many players, including two starting offensive linemen, and spent one of their nine picks on a lineman. Yet, here we are, three weeks from training camp, and Washington’s offensive line remains a big question mark.

Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti are the new starters at center and left guard, respectively. Biadasz was a solid center for Dallas over the previous four seasons, while Allegretti was Kansas City’s top reserve, who thrived when called upon. Both represent upgrades for the Commanders, even if they aren’t Pro Bowl-level players.

Washington re-signed Cornelius Lucas at left tackle. He has started 31 games for the Commanders at right and left tackle over the last four seasons. He’s been solid, but he struggles once he’s required to start several games.

The Commanders used a third-round pick on Brandon Coleman. Some NFL teams viewed Coleman as a guard, but his measurables favor him playing tackle.

Will this offensive line be good enough to protect a rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels)?

According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, Washington’s offensive line remains one of the league’s 10 most significant roster holes ahead of training camp. In fact, Patra ranked the Commanders’ O-Line at No. 4.

Jayden Daniels’ blind side sits in a precarious spot. Washington didn’t address left tackle in free agency and waited until the draft’s third round before taking a tackle. Thirty-two-year-old journeyman Cornelius Lucas, who’s started double-digit games once in 10 seasons, and third-round pick Brandon Coleman are in line to compete for the gig. Guard Nick Allegretti was a backup in Kansas City for the past five years and will be tasked with locking down the left guard spot. RG Sam Cosmi is a stud and C Tyler Biadasz is solid, but the rest of the group has significant question marks. The hope is that Daniels’ elusiveness can mitigate some of the issues, but that’s asking a lot of a rookie.

Each of Patra’s are valid. Cosmi is a stud and needs to be extended soon. Allegretti is a bit of a mystery, while Biadasz will be just fine. Both tackle spots, including right tackle (Andrew Wylie), represent some concern.

There aren’t many moves Peters can make this close to training camp. When he took the job, he had a laundry list of issues to fix, and he has done an outstanding job of filling those needs. Peters always knew he couldn’t fix every hole in one offseason. But, if Peters is right about the moves he has made, Washington’s offense has a chance to be much better than people expect in 2024.

How can the Commanders solve their biggest remaining hole ahead of training cap?

What should the Commanders do at left tackle?

It was a foregone conclusion entering the offseason that the Washington Commanders would make a move at offensive tackle. The Commanders were busy during the early stages of free agency, signing over a dozen players within the first week.

However, none of those players were an offensive tackle. That’s not to say Washington didn’t address the offensive line. The Commanders signed center Tyler Biadasz and guard Nick Allegretti, both of whom will likely start. Washington did re-sign veteran tackle Cornelius Lucas, bringing him back for his fifth season with the franchise.

The Commanders still had the 2024 NFL draft, and many believed they would move back into the first round for one of the offensive tackles in what was a deep class. The first round came and went, and Washington did not move back into the first, although there were attempts to do so.

The Commanders did use a high third-round pick on TCU offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. Washington said Coleman would be a tackle, and while others view him as a guard, his film and athletic profile is promising.

We’ve discussed multiple veteran options for the Commanders. While none would be long-term solutions, there just aren’t many players who could come in and start Week 1 at left tackle.

Bleacher Report recently looked at seven teams that didn’t address their major holes in the 2024 NFL draft and suggested what these teams could do to improve.

Washington’s tackle problem was listed.

Here’s what B/R said about the Commanders’ tackle need:

New center Tyler Biadasz and third-year guard Sam Cosmi are the only offensive linemen on the squad proven to be at least average starters. The rest—left tackle Cornelius Lucas, left guard Nick Allegretti and right tackle Andrew Wylie—are all replacement level or worse.

The blindside commands priority. It always has and it always will. With a rookie quarterback in the building, especially one with some of the pocket-management concerns Jayden Daniels brings, the priority on sorting out the position is raised even higher.

As we sit here in June, the Commanders’ options at left tackle are Lucas, Cosmi and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman.

Lucas is hardly a serious consideration. He’s been a fine spot starter for the Commanders for half a decade now, but if he was good enough to be locked into a starting job, he would be by now.

Cosmi is an intriguing option but not a surefire answer. He played both left and right tackle in college, as well as right tackle for most of his time with the Commanders. However, he has yet to play left tackle in the NFL, in part because he lacks the range and length you see from the best blindside protectors. It’s why he’s kicked inside to guard.

Even if Cosmi does OK at left tackle, that just makes the guard spot worse in turn. Being better at left tackle is probably more valuable, but the Commanders would just be moving one quality lineman to a different position rather than adding another good player to the line. That doesn’t solve much.

Then there’s the rookie Coleman. Right off the bat, it’s hard to trust any third-round tackle to be an immediate positive presence on the left side. He is also coming from an Air Raid-style offense that doesn’t really pass protect with the same rules or spacing as the NFL. That’s going to create a steep learning curve. Chances are Coleman won’t be ready for the spotlight Week 1.

The Commanders should be in the market for the handful of remaining left tackles out there.

D.J. Humphries, Donovan Smith, and David Bakhtiari were all named as potential signings for Washington. We’ve discussed each. Humphries tore his ACL at the end of the season and will not be ready for the early part of the season. He may not be able to play at all. Bakhtiari has been injured for much of the past three seasons. Smith would be a potential option for one season.

As far as the potential of Cosmi moving back to tackle, that would be a horrible move for him and the team. He has All-Pro potential at guard and is heading into a contract year. Peters and Quinn see Cosmi’s future at guard, too.

Coleman and Lucas both worked at left tackle during OTAs and minicamp. Washington’s ultimate outcome would be Coleman winning the job.