RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Since February, it seemed like everyone but Washington general manager Adam Peters and his staff realized the Commanders had some problems at center. Peters created the problem, releasing starting center Tyler Biadasz before free agency and striking out in his pursuit of former Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum.
Instead, Washington’s plan was to elevate veteran Nick Allegretti to starting center despite mostly playing guard throughout his seven-year NFL career. There were whispers that the Commanders felt Biadasz’s play slipped in 2025, and they felt Allegretti would be an improvement.
Free agency came and went. Washington didn’t add another veteran to compete with Allegretti, or at least to give the Commanders some security if he got hurt or struggled. Peters did address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft with sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin. While Gulbin looks like a promising prospect, fans and media alike questioned if Washington had done enough at center. Remember, the Commanders are transitioning to a new offensive scheme, and quarterback Jayden Daniels is playing under center more.
The team had more opportunities to add an experienced veteran, someone like Ethan Pocic or Lloyd Cushenberry, but Peters declined. Then, on the first day of training camp, Allegretti strained his calf and missed three weeks. He returned and reaggravated the injury. So, for most of training camp, journeyman Julian Good-Jones has served as Washington’s No. 1 center, with Gulbin as the backup.
In Saturday’s preseason loss to the Detroit Lions, the Commanders’ first-team offense played only one series. They went three-and-out. Daniels was under heavy pressure on the first two plays, taking a sack, before handing off on third down. That was it.
After the game, Quinn admitted Washington’s center issue.
“Sam’s really having a good camp,” Quinn said in reference to right guard Sam Cosmi. "Like, maybe playing the best I’ve seen him play in the couple, three years [since Quinn arrived in 2024]. Technique, he’s on it. I like what I’m seeing on the outside, you know, at left tackle. So, we got work to do to figure out where we want to get to at center.”
LIVE: HC Dan Quinn speaks to the media after the game https://t.co/KaiX1DFunw
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 22, 2026 There you have it. In just a few words, Quinn acknowledges what many on the outside have said for months. This isn’t a knock on Allegretti. But when you’re starting a new center, whether he’s a veteran or not, he hasn’t played much center in the NFL, you better have a solid backup plan in case he gets hurt. The Commanders did not.
There’s still time to add help, but it will be much harder now than it was months ago. Other centers, including Biadasz, have gotten injured this summer. Regardless, you can bet Peters will be looking to add someone when teams trim their rosters to 53 players on Aug. 30.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Dan Quinn finally acknowledges Washington's big problem
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