The Commanders emphasized speed, versatility — and the next injury — in rebuilding their front seven
After injuries exposed a lack of depth during last season's 5-12 collapse, Washington spent the offseason adding linemen and linebackers capable of filling multiple roles.
ASHBURN, Va. — When Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise were sidelined for last week’s OTA session rather than participating in it, the scene functioned as a reminder of how dramatically the Washington Commanders’ roster has changed in one year.
In 2025, both defensive linemen were lost early to season-ending injuries, amplifying concerns about a defense already short on proven depth. This time, the Commanders barely blinked.
The lesson from last season’s 5-12 collapse wasn’t simply that injuries hurt. Every NFL team deals with injuries. Washington’s problem was that too often one absence became two problems. A starter went down, and the replacement gap proved too considerable to maintain the preferred tactical approach.
General manager Adam Peters spent this offseason attacking that issue from multiple angles. More linemen. More linebackers. More speed. More versatility.
The goal wasn’t merely upgrading the starting lineup. It was about ensuring another season doesn’t spiral out of control because one or two key contributors land on injured reserve.
That reality became painfully clear last season.
