The Washington Commanders have allowed only five sacks through four games despite a revolving door on their offensive line, but their run blocking ranks last in the NFL. The contrast between protecting the quarterback and opening lanes for the running game has become a defining feature of Washington’s offense early this season.
The Commanders lost left tackle Laremy Tunsil for the year on August 8 with a torn triceps, removing arguably the NFL’s best left tackle from their lineup before the season even started. Their center position has been equally unsettled. Nick Allegretti, initially projected as the starting center, missed all of training camp with a calf injury and faced competition issues once he returned. The team signed veteran Lucas Patrick, who stepped in as the starting center, with Allegretti sliding over to right guard in Week 3 before being benched in Week 4 for rookie Matt Gulbin.
Right guard Sam Cosmi also missed two games after an incident in Week 2 involving rookie running back Kaytron Allen, further disrupting the offensive line’s continuity. Cosmi is expected to return for Sunday’s Week 5 game against the New York Giants, but questions remain about whether Patrick will keep the starting center spot, given his stronger performance compared to Allegretti.
Despite these disruptions, the Commanders’ pass protection has held up well. Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and a third starter have combined to be sacked just five times in four games. Washington ranks third in ESPN’s pass-block win rate at 58 percent. This has helped the team maintain some offensive stability even with different players under center.
The running game, however, tells a different story. The Commanders sit eighth in rushing yards per game, averaging 129 yards, but much of that total comes from scrambling quarterbacks rather than effective run blocking. Daniels has rushed for 100 yards over about 2.5 games, and Mariota has added 49 yards on the ground. Jacory Croskey-Merritt leads the team with 157 rushing yards but averages only 2.8 yards per carry.
According to analytics expert Warren Sharp, Washington’s running backs were hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 53 percent of their attempts through Week 4—the third-highest rate in the NFL. ESPN’s run-block win rate metric places Washington dead last at 32nd with a 67 percent success rate, a stark contrast to their pass-block numbers.
The Commanders hope that a healthier Daniels and a more settled offensive line will improve their run blocking in the coming weeks. They recently brought back veteran running back Austin Ekeler, who carried the ball four times for 29 yards in his first game back. Whether that addition will translate to more effective ground gains remains to be seen.
For now, Washington’s offensive line continues to be a mixed bag. The unit’s ability to protect the quarterback stands out amid injuries and lineup changes, while the run blocking struggles have hampered the team’s offensive rhythm. The Week 5 game against the Giants will be a key moment to see how the line adjusts with Cosmi’s return and if Patrick keeps his role at center.
According to Yahoo Sports.
