Commanders' trusted starter is subtly becoming an overlooked problem

The Washington Commanders had a disastrous Week 7 showing against arch-rival Dallas Cowboys, losing by multiple scores and dropping below .500 for the first time this season.

What was already a sizable list of injuries for the Commanders now includes star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will miss at least Washington's next contest against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football with a low-grade hamstring strain.

Still, injuries are no excuse for a team that entered the campaign with high hopes for another deep playoff run after last year's NFC Championship game appearance. Everyone must be better, and there are far too many players who are simply underachieving.

One of them is an offensive stalwart in a role whose importance cannot be overstated.

Commanders need more from Tyler Biadasz as cracks begin to show

The Commanders addressed no position more than the offensive line over the offseason. They added five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil at left tackle via trade and drafted Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall to cover the opposite edge.

Results have been mixed.

Tunsil has been his usual dependable self, while Conerly has gone through his growing pains but has progressed after a rough start. Sam Cosmi only just returned at right guard in Week 7, playing his first game back after tearing his ACL in the playoff divisional round. At left guard, Chris Paul has been a revelation after replacing the underwhelming Brandon Coleman.

That leaves the man in the middle, Tyler Biadasz.

The 2022 Pro Bowler was one of several former Dallas Cowboys players who followed Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. to D.C. in 2024 free agency, along with Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., Noah Igbinoghene, and Noah Brown. He had a solid first season in Washington and has drawn little attention in 2025, which is usually a good thing for an offensive lineman.

However, the line has left more to be desired in recent weeks, especially struggling to open up holes in the run game. Both against the Cowboys and the Chicago Bears in Week 6, Washington was expected to be able to unleash seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt at will against its opponents. That has not happened, with runs up the gut specifically being stuffed at the line of scrimmage regularly.

A large share of that responsibility falls on Biadasz. His production has dipped, upon further examination of the game film. His 61.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 20th out of 35 qualifying centers. The Wisconsin product's 61.1 run-blocking grade places 22nd. That's not good enough for one of the team's most established veterans.

He, like the rest of the Commanders' roster, will need to use the past two weeks as a wakeup call if Washington has any hopes of returning to the playoffs this season.