Commanders share Laremy Tunsil update after brutal injury

It was learned on Aug. 9 that the Washington Commanders feared that starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil had suffered a torn triceps in practice.

Per John Keim of ESPN, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday that Tunsil will undergo surgery to repair his torn triceps.

Could Laremy Tunsil play for Commanders during 2026 NFL season?

"It's always tough to talk about a player missing time, especially a great player like LT," Quinn said. "Not only is he an unbelievable player, but he is an absolutely fantastic teammate. He'll be missed, and we certainly can't wait to get him back."

According to Keim, Quinn said that the Commanders haven't yet closed the door on Tunsil possibly playing for the club before the 2026 regular season wraps up. 

"We’ll know more post-surgery on timelines and all that good stuff," Quinn added, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. 

Tunsil is a five-time Pro Bowl selection who plays at a level that can't simply be replaced via a next-man-up mentality or the acquisition of a different talent. Specifically, Pro Football Focus ranked Tunsil sixth among 89 qualified offensive tackles for the 2025 season. In July, league executives, coaches and scouts surveyed by ESPN ranked Tunsil the fifth-best offensive tackle in the NFL for the upcoming season. 

The loss of Tunsil is a brutal blow for Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is looking to produce a bounce-back campaign while throwing passes to No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin and free-agency signing Stefon Diggs. Daniels was limited to just seven starts last season before he was shut down after he aggravated a previously suffered elbow injury.

Commanders make decision on Laremy Tunsil replacement

Also on Monday, Quinn said that Brandon Coleman will serve as the team's starting left tackle until further notice. The Commanders selected Coleman in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has thus far made 17 regular-season starts. 

"[Coleman] has played a lot of winning football at left tackle here, and we know he's ready for it," Quinn said. "He's put in an excellent offseason, and the team's very confident in him."