Laremy Tunsil Sidelined for 2026 Season Following Triceps Tear

Washington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil is expected to miss the 2026 NFL season after tearing his triceps during Saturday’s training camp practice, officials said. Surgery is planned, and the procedure is expected to end his season.

Officials said the injury occurred during one-on-one drills when Tunsil was matched up with defensive end Odafe Oweh. The timing forces Washington to revisit a premium roster decision with the regular season approaching and the club’s protection plan built around a new starter at one of the offense’s most demanding positions.

Washington’s blind-side plan changes ahead of Week 1

Tunsil, 32, had been set to serve as the primary blind-side protector for quarterback Jayden Daniels. With Tunsil sidelined, Washington must decide whether the answer is already in the building or whether it needs to look outside the roster to stabilize the position.

Officials framed the immediate task as reassigning practice reps and building functional continuity quickly. Beyond simply replacing snaps, Washington now has to redesign weekly game-planning assumptions that had been tied to a veteran left tackle handling high-leverage pass-protection responsibilities.

Contract stakes add pressure to the personnel pivot

The injury also lands in a specific financial and roster context. Tunsil signed a two-year, $60.2 million contract extension five months ago, a deal that made him the league’s highest-paid player at left tackle, according to the information provided.

With that level of investment, his absence becomes a significant adjustment in how Washington allocates personnel and structures the offensive line. Officials indicated the club’s short-term focus is identifying the most dependable protection option and accelerating cohesion with whichever group is tasked with shielding Daniels.

Internal candidates: Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie Washington has at least two in-house routes to consider as it distributes first-team work in camp. Brandon Coleman is a candidate because he has previously started at left tackle, giving the coaching staff a clear reference point if it chooses to stay internal.

Veteran Andrew Wylie is also in the mix due to his experience across multiple offensive line spots. However, he has not started at left tackle, meaning any move would require a role change rather than a continuation of prior usage.

Replacing Tunsil’s 2025 standard and weighing free agents

Washington’s challenge is also performance-based. Tunsil is a five-time Pro Bowler and was Daniels’ primary protector in 2025, when he allowed only two sacks across 14 starts, officials said, setting a demanding benchmark for any replacement.

Alongside internal options, Washington is expected to evaluate external solutions. Free agents cited as possible considerations include Taylor Decker and Cam Robinson, as the team works through how quickly it can assemble dependable blind-side protection ahead of the regular season.

Officials did not provide a recovery timeline beyond the expectation that the planned surgery will end Tunsil’s 2026 campaign. The next decisions are expected to center on who takes first-team snaps at left tackle and how the offensive line is configured as Week 1 approaches.