Commanders restructure Chase Roullier’s contract with center set for knee surgery

Washington Commanders center Chase Roullier is having knee surgery this week, according to The Athletic’s Ben Standig. Roullier suffered the injury in Washington’s Week 2 loss to the Detroit Lions.

In a related move, the Commanders have converted $4.5 million of Roullier’s base salary into a signing bonus, ESPN’s Field Yates was first to report. The move creates $3 million of salary cap space for the Commanders.

Roullier is in the second year of a four-year, $40.5 million contract extension he signed at the end of the 2020 season. This season, $5.35 million of his $7.17 million base salary was guaranteed.

Before Roullier’s contract conversion, the Commanders had roughly $2.75 million of cap space. A large portion of the salary cap is committed to quarterback Carson Wentz, who the Commanders acquired in a trade this past March. Wentz carries a $28.3 million cap hit. Cornerback William Jackson III is the second-largest cap hit at just over $13.8 million.

The Commanders also have nearly $8 million in dead cap space, highlighted by the release of safety Landon Collins.

On the injury front, Roullier held out hope he could avoid surgery. Doctors waited for the swelling to go down in his knee before making an evaluation. Washington placed Roullier on injured reserve on Sept. 20.

Roullier now faces a season-ending injury for the second consecutive season. His season ended in 2021 due to a fractured fibula after eight games. The latest injury is one of a slew along the Commanders’ offensive line.

Roullier’s replacement, Wes Schweitzer, landed on injured reserve last week with a concussion. Nick Martin, who the Commanders signed in a corresponding transaction with Roullier’s IR placement, started in Week 4. Additionally, the Commanders benched right guard Trai Turner due to a lingering quad injury hampering his play. Commanders right tackle Sam Cosmi could miss multiple games with a hand injury.

The Commanders could be down three starting offensive linemen for their Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans.