The Commanders are kicking off the regular season with a massive gut punch, officially placing star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton on injured reserve this Monday. This isn’t just some minor roster shuffle, folks. This is a brutal blow to their trenches, both on offense and defense, right when they need their best guys ready to roll.
Two Big Names Sidelined With Brutal Injuries
Look, when you’re talking about a left tackle like Tunsil, the guy protecting your quarterback’s blind side, and a disruptive defensive tackle like Newton, these aren’t easy roles to fill. Tunsil is dealing with a torn triceps, and Newton? He’s got a torn pec. Ouch. These are not small injuries. We’re talking about serious rehab and recovery time, and it just throws a wrench into everything the Commanders had planned for the start of their year. They’re losing critical starters, and the replacements better be ready to step up in a major way.
The “Designated For Return” Twist and the Harsh Reality
Now, there’s a slight silver lining here, but it’s pretty cloudy. The team waited until *after* the initial 53-man roster was set to make these IR moves. That timing means both Tunsil and Newton technically *can* be designated for return at some point during the regular season or even the playoffs. But let’s be real, the Commanders already used their two allowed “initial cut” return spots on cornerback Trey Amos and running back Jeremy McNichols. And with Tunsil’s torn triceps and Newton’s torn pec, the odds of either one actually making it back later in the year? The chances are looking slim, folks. Those are injuries that just take a long, long time to heal, and you don’t want to rush them back.
On top of these major losses, the Commanders also brought back cornerback Fabian Moreau and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. Both guys were cut on Sunday but are now re-signed, which tells you they’re scrambling to fill out the roster depth after these IR hits. It’s a quick turnaround, showing they needed to get some familiar faces back in the building fast.
This is a tough start for the Commanders. Losing two key players to serious injuries right out of the gate, especially when their return is a long shot, puts immense pressure on the rest of the squad. They’re going to need their depth to step up big time, and the coaching staff has to find a way to patch these holes if they want any chance of making noise this season. It’s going to be an uphill battle from day one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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