The Commanders will be without one of their top performers in the NFC Championship game.
One big disappointment emerged from the Washington Commanders' sensational victory over the Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Championship game. That was, of course, the devastating injury to Sam Cosmi.
There was a significant amount of concern when Cosmi went down in the first half. These fears were confirmed when the Commanders revealed the interior offensive lineman tore his ACL. He is out for the playoffs and much longer than that, so head coach Dan Quinn and his staff must find the correct coping mechanisms in pursuit of the Super Bowl.
This represents a major blow. Cosmi is among the team's most prolific performers and their best offensive lineman. Not having his presence against the Philadelphia Eagles' vaunted defensive line led by Jalen Carter isn't ideal, but it's a next-man-up mentality.
Just how the Commanders approach this issue remains to be seen. Trent Scott filled in for Cosmi at Ford Field and did well. He could start, but Quinn dropped a subtle hint during his media availability that this might not be the case.
Commanders are adjusting on the fly without OL Sam Cosmi
Quinn revealed that the Commanders have given a lot of thought to putting their five best remaining offensive linemen on the field with the stakes higher than ever. And make no mistake, Washington is going to keep the confirmed plans a secret until their first competitive snap at Lincoln Financial Field.
As Ben Standig of The Athletic pondered, this could potentially mean a switch for right tackle Andrew Wylie onto the interior.
Wylie gained experience as a right and left guard over the first three seasons of his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs before switching to the edge. It's been four seasons since he's played there prominently, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Cornelius Lucas, who's played well when called upon this season, would then occupy the right tackle position opposite rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman on the blindside.
The veteran ranks first league-wide with no quarterback hits allowed according to Pro Football Focus. His 79.1 pass-blocking grade is 25th out of 141 qualifying offensive tackles. He's also disciplined, giving up just three penalties from 464 offensive snaps.
This would be a little harsh on Scott considering how he played versus the Lions. But few would argue these aren't Washington's most productive fivesome without Cosmi to depend upon.
Nothing has been confirmed as yet. The Commanders didn't show their hand during the media portion of practice on Wednesday and are unlikely to do so over the next two days. Whether it's Wylie or Scott, they have to perform.
Carter, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams are a formidable 3-4 defensive front. They are capable of generating pressure without the help of others. Experienced defensive coordinator Vic Fangio schemes things up masterfully. It represents a stern challenge for the Commanders — one they must counteract effectively in pursuit of progress.
Quinn and his staff know what they're doing. They're meticulous in their planning and leave nothing to chance. Losing Cosmi will be sorely felt, but Washington has contingency plans in place for every eventuality.
That should ease the fears of fans. After that, it's down to the players.
