Tag: wes schweitzer

Commanders 2023 free agency preview: What happens with OL Wes Schweitzer?

Will the Commanders bring back their most versatile offensive lineman in 2023?

The Washington Commanders are expected to be busy this offseason rebuilding an offensive line that was one of the worst in the NFL in 2022.

In the first two years of Ron Rivera’s regime, Washington’s offensive line overachieved, ranking inside the top 10 of PFF’s end-of-season offensive line rankings. It’s a point Rivera would often note when discussing the offensive line.

Well, if the Commanders overachieved in 2020 and 2021, they were quite the opposite in 2022. While Washington’s quarterbacks didn’t always help things, the offensive line did struggle both in pass blocking and run blocking. It didn’t help that the Commanders had to play four centers for the second consecutive season.

Before Washington jumps into free agency, it must decide on two internal free agents: Trai Turner and Wes Schweitzer. Turner wasn’t good in 2022, while Schweitzer played out of position at center. Will either be back in 2023?

Let’s focus on Schweitzer.

Commanders make roster moves ahead of Week 13

Wes Schweitzer is back.

The Washington Commanders received some good news Saturday when guard/center Wes Schweitzer was officially activated from the reserve/injured list.

Schweitzer, who opened the season as Washington’s starting right guard, suffered a concussion in the Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and has been sidelined since. Earlier this week, the team announced it had designated Schweitzer to return from IR.

Guard Trai Turner will miss Sunday’s game, but it’s expected that tackle Sam Cosmi will receive an opportunity to start in Turner’s place with Cornelius Lucas remaining at right tackle. Schweitzer should soon be back in the mix to start somewhere for the Commanders.

Washington also elevated veteran wide receiver/returner Alex Erickson to replace Dax Milne on the roster. Erickson will return punts in Milne’s absence. Milne is dealing with a foot injury.

Erickson certainly has at least one fond memory of success against the Giants.

Erickson was the punt returner in Week 12 vs. the Falcons but did not receive any return opportunities.

Commanders could be getting some help on the offensive line

The Commanders designated Wes Schweitzer for return from injured reserve.

Washington Commanders guard Trai Turner has missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Sunday’s important Week 13 game against the New York Giants.

In his place, Washington has worked right tackle Sam Cosmi at right guard, keeping Cornelius Lucas at right tackle. Lucas replaced Cosmi at right tackle after Cosmi injured his thumb in Week 4. Since Cosmi’s return, the pair have rotated at right tackle.

Good news could be on the way for the Commanders. Washington designated guard/center Wes Schweitzer to return from the reserve/injured list. Schweitzer suffered a concussion in the Week 3 loss to the Eagles.

Before Schweitzer’s injury, he began the season as the starter at right guard. However, when center Chase Roullier was lost for the season in Week 2, Schweitzer started at center in Week 3 before his injury. This is Schweitzer’s third season in Washington, and he has started a total of 20 games.

Washington now has 21 days to either activate Schweitzer to the roster, or he will miss the remainder of the season. Sometimes these moves happen relatively quickly, or, in other cases, the team waits until the final minute to make a move.

If Schweitzer is activated soon, he figures to be back in the mix at right guard. Either way, Schweitzer’s potential return gives the Commanders terrific depth on the interior of the offensive line.

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Chase Roullier to undergo knee surgery, most likely ending his season

Roullier was injured at the end of Washington’s Week 2 loss to the Lions.

It’s only been four weeks, but the season couldn’t have begun any worse for the Washington Commanders’ offensive line. After a Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Commanders have lost three games in a row.

In Week 2, Washington went into halftime down 22-0 before coming back. The Commanders stormed back, but it was too little too late as the Lions held on for a 36-27 win. Unfortunately, Washington’s most significant loss that day didn’t come in the standings but in center Chase Roullier.

At the end of the game, Roullier suffered a knee injury, and the team feared Roullier was lost for the season. However, he would get a second opinion before the severity was determined.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Roullier is expected to undergo knee surgery this week, and the fear is he’s out for the remainder of the season.

Not much is known, but Fowler leaving the window open on a return this season makes it possible Roullier’s injury isn’t as serious as initially feared. Head coach Ron Rivera will likely address Roullier’s injury this week.

This is tough news for Roullier, who broke his leg in Week 8 last season. He discussed this offseason the difficulty of the rehabilitation process.

Roullier’s replacement, Wes Schweitzer, went on injured reserve with a concussion, leading the Commanders to sign veteran Nick Martin.

Center Tyler Larsen is expected to be activated from the PUP list Wednesday, giving him three weeks to show the team he’s ready to play. Right tackle Sam Cosmi injured his hand in Sunday’s Week 4 loss to Dallas and could miss multiple weeks.

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Commanders place G/C Wes Schweitzer on injured reserve

The Commanders are without a key offensive lineman for the foreseeable future.

Washington’s offensive line took another hit Saturday when guard/center Wes Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve.

Schweitzer missed practice last week with a concussion after he made his first start of the season at center against the Philadelphia Eagles. Schweitzer was competing with veteran Trai Turner over the summer to start at right guard.

To replace Schweitzer on the roster, Washington promoted Wes Martin from the practice squad. The Commanders claimed Martin off waivers from the Jaguars on Aug. 24. A former fourth-round pick of Washington in 2019, Martin has played in 33 career games with 11 starts. He spent the first two seasons of his career with Washington before being waived during final cuts. Washington re-signed him to the practice squad, where the Giants later signed him away.

Schweitzer is in his seventh NFL season — third with the Commanders. He has played in 75 career games, with 57 starts. He has played in 29 games for Washington since he signed in 2020.

Schweitzer was presumably placed on IR with a designation to return later in the season.

The Commanders could also get reserve center Tyler Larsen back soon, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. Larsen will come off the PUP list week.

Final injury report for Commanders vs. Cowboys, Week 4

Center/guard Wes Schweitzer is out for Sunday’s game, meaning recently signed Nick Martin will start at center for the Commanders.

The Washington Commanders will be without center Wes Schweitzer [concussion] for Sunday’s Week 4 game against the Dallas Cowboys. Washington released the final injury report Friday, and Schweitzer is the only player confirmed as out.

Schweitzer, a longtime guard, was only in his third game at center over the last two seasons. He replaced Chase Roullier last week. Roullier suffered what was presumed to be a season-ending injury at the end of Week 2.

With Schweitzer out, that means newly signed Nick Martin will start at center. Martin was signed after Roullier’s injury and is in his seventh NFL season. He was a multi-year starter for the Houston Texans at one point.

Left tackle Charles Leno [shoulder] is questionable for the game. Head coach Ron Rivera said Leno was dealing with a shoulder injury, but it wasn’t serious, and the team was limiting him in practice as a precaution.

The Commanders will need Leno Sunday as they prepare to face Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and the Cowboys’ outstanding pass rush.

As for the Cowboys, quarterback Dak Prescott is out, which was always expected, while wide receiver Michael Gallup makes his season debut. Gallup’s return is huge for the Cowboys.

Tight end Dalton Schultz, safety Jayron Kearse and guard Connon McGovern are all questionable.

First injury reports for Commanders vs. Eagles, Week 3

Three players did not practice Wednesday for the Commanders.

The first injury report for Week 3 is out and featured some good and bad news for the Washington Commanders.

First, the good news. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, safety Kam Curl and guard/center Wes Schweitzer all practiced fully. Curl is on track to play his first game of the season on Sunday against the Eagles. Schweitzer is Washington’s likely starting center now that Chase Roullier is on injured reserve.

Now, the not-so-good news.

The Commanders had three players who did not practice and three who were limited Wednesday. Defensive Shaka Toney [illness], defensive end Casey Toohill [concussion] and defensive tackle Daniel Wise [ankle].

Offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles [shoulder], linebacker Cole Holcomb [quad] and right guard Trai Turner [quad] were all limited.

Meanwhile, things looked much better for the Eagles.

Wide receiver Quez Watkins [illness] was the only player to miss practice. Cornerback Avonte Maddox [back] and linebacker Haason Reddick [knee] were limited.

Some good injury news for the Commanders Wednesday

Jonathan Allen, Kam Curl and Wes Schweitzer all practiced fully.

The Washington Commanders have dealt with some difficult injury news over the season’s first two weeks. Rookie defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis was lost for the season with a knee injury, and longtime center Chase Roullier was placed on injured reserve and is feared to be lost for the season.

In addition, defensive tackle and team captain Jonathan Allen injured his groin in Week 1 but played in Week 2. The Commanders lost another defensive tackle Sunday when Daniel Wise left with an ankle injury.

As the Commanders begin preparations for an NFC East showdown with the Eagles in Week 3 on Wednesday, Washington received some good news on the injury front.

Allen, safety Kam Curl and guard/center Wes Schweitzer were all full participants. Curl missed the first two games after undergoing surgery on his thumb. but was cleared earlier this week. Schweitzer injured his hamstring in Week 1 and missed Sunday’s loss to the Lions. He will be Washington’s starting center if he’s healthy.

At 1-1, Washington hosts 2-0 Philadelphia on Sunday.

Commanders sign veteran center Nick Martin

Nick Martin is a seven-year NFL veteran.

The Washington Commanders placed starting center Chase Roullier on injured reserve Tuesday and signed veteran center Nick Martin to replace him on the roster.

Martin is a seven-year NFL veteran who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Houston Texans. A second-round pick from Notre Dame in 2016, Martin missed his rookie season after undergoing ankle surgery.

Over the next four years, Martin started all but two games for the Texans at center. The Texans released him in Feb. 2021, and he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Martin appeared in all 17 games with the Raiders but did not record a start.

If healthy, Wes Schweitzer should start at center for Washingon. Schweitzer has started games at center and both guard spots in his three seasons with the Commanders. He injured his hamstring in the Week 1 win vs. Jacksonville but missed the Week 2 game in Detroit.

Martin provides Washington with veteran insurance behind Schweitzer.

Report: Commanders center Chase Roullier could miss the rest of the season

Commanders could lose center Chase Roullier for the season.

Washington Commanders center Chase Roullier can’t escape bad luck. After breaking his fibula in Week 8 last season, Roullier returned to training camp after a difficult rehabilitation process.

In Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions, Roullier was injured on Washington’s next-to-last play of the game when a Detroit lineman pushed Roullier into teammate Sam Cosmi, who was on the ground. Roullier’s legs buckled, and he exited the field on a medical cart.

After the game, head coach Ron Rivera said Roullier was dealing with a lower leg injury with no further details provided.

On Monday, during his presser, Rivera briefly discussed Roullier’s situation:

“Chase will probably have to go on short-term IR minimum,” Rivera said.

Initially, that sounded good, but a later report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN sounded much more ominous. Fowler said Roullier “is in danger of missing the rest of the season” due to a significant knee injury.

Ben Standig of The Athletic had more details on Roullier’s injury. He said it was not the same leg as last season’s injury, and doctors were looking at the MCL and the kneecap.

Wes Schweitzer would replace Roullier, but he missed the Week 2 game with a hamstring injury. Wes Martin would be next, with Jon Toth on the practice squad.

This is a difficult blow to Washington’s offensive line, which struggled Sunday.