Commanders Fix Glaring Weakness With Latest Signing

Commanders sign DJ Humphries

The Arizona Cardinals drafted DJ Humphries in 2015. The 32-year-old spent eight seasons with the Cardinals, including a 2021 Pro Bowl selection. He started 98 of the 101 games he played with the Cards, and now, the Washington Commanders have signed him to a one-year deal.

While Humphries had a good career with the Cardinals, he has not been a full-time starter since 2023 after he tore his ACL in Week 17. Since then, he has bounced around, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs before eventually signing with the Los Angeles Rams last year.

Humphries spent most of the season on the bench, with Yahoo Sports reporting that he was a “healthy scratch” for most of the year before he started the team’s Week 17 game. He allowed five pressures, four hurries, and one sack in 84 snaps across eight games last season.

What do the Commanders have in Brandon Coleman?

The Commanders drafted third-year pro Brandon Coleman in the third round with the intention of turning him into their long-term starter. It hasn’t worked out like that for the former TCU Horned Frog, as Coleman came into camp this year battling for the starting left guard position.

But Coleman has the size and the pedigree to play the position. He has started 18 games at LT in his pro career, but only started there three times last season after the team traded for Tunsil.

“When these tough scenarios come up, it does provide some opportunities,” head coach Dan Quinn said shortly after Tunsil’s injury. “Brandon Coleman… has played a lot of winning football at left tackle here and we know that he’s ready for it. He has put in an excellent offseason, and the team is very confident in him.”

He called Coleman’s athleticism one of his key attributes.

Quinn was asked on Wednesday, August 26, whether signing Humphrey changed anything about the team’s plans for Coleman. Quinn reportedly replied, “No.”