Charles

Leno Jr.

The move will save Washington roughly $7.3 million in cap space. Leno missed the final three games of the 2023 season with a calf injury and one game earlier in the year because of a shoulder issue. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Leno is set to undergo surgery on his hip next week. At 32 years old, Leno was still an effective left tackle, ranking as Pro Football Focus’s No. 28 tackle last year. If the hip injury doesn’t linger into the 2024 season, Leno should be able to find a job, likely as a starter, elsewhere in the league.

Leno had missed Week 16 and evidently was not going to be ready in Week 18. With the Commanders since 2021, ex-Bear Leno is signed through next season but due no guaranteed money. He has been solid if not elite the past two years. 32 years old, there’s a non-zero chance Leno gets caught up in what should be a comprehensive Commanders rebuild.

Center Tyler Larsen has also been ruled out. Down two starting linemen versus an elite Jets defense, things aren’t looking good for Sam Howell. He will rank as a mid-range QB2 for his Week 16 matchup with the Jets.

Center Tyler Larsen was absent from practice because of a knee issue. Sam Howell has taken 59 sacks. That leads the league, as do his 15 interceptions. If he is without two starting linemen for Week 16, we wouldn’t expect things to get any better for the second-year quarterback.

Struggling with a shoulder issue, Leno will miss another game. Washington goes against a Falcons defensive line graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s seventh worst pass rush.

Leno will have his hands full against the Cowboys after being a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. The Commanders allowed nine sacks of Carson Wentz last week, and will now look to limit Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence this week. The Commanders ruled out QB Sam Howell, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, G Chris Paul, TE Cole Turner and DT Daniel Wise.

Leno got in back-to-back limited practices on Thursday and Friday after missing Wednesday with the injury. A truly solid left tackle, it would be a downgrade for Carson Wentz and company against the Cowboys if Leno didn’t play. Two practices in a row provides some optimism heading into Saturday.

Leno hasn’t appeared on the injury report or missed a snap this season, so the injury seemingly occurred on Sunday. Starting center Wes Schweitzer also missed practice because of a concussion. Missing two starting linemen for Week 4 would be a disaster for Carson Wentz, who already leads the NFL in sacks taken. This is a situation to monitor throughout the week.

Leno’s absence from Wednesday’s practice was a surprise, but his return to the field Thursday is encouraging for an offensive line that has struggled of late. Carson Wentz took nine sacks in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles and gets another tough matchup against a Dallas defensive front in Week 4. Center Wes Schweitzer is still working his way back from a concussion and Chase Roullier is on injured reserve. Leno’s return is some good news for an offensive line that’s suffered some serious blows early on.

Signed to a one-year deal deep into the offseason, Leno has started every game for Washington at left tackle and has graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 tackle out of 82 qualifiers, receiving really strong marks for his pass protection on Taylor Heinicke’s blind side. After the way the Trent Williams situation ended in Washington, the Football Team appears to have its left tackle of the present and near future in 30-year-old Leno.