Commanders' Brandon Coleman on staying ready if needed at center

· Yahoo Sports

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn recently tried to ease any concerns about starting center Nick Allegretti's calf injury, saying he'd be out for around one week. In his place, the Commanders have Julian Good-Jones and sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin. The duo has combined to take two snaps in the NFL.

That led Washington to sign former Bengals center Trey Hill. It's not like Hill has a wealth of experience either, having played in 218 career snaps in 25 NFL games. And he hasn't appeared in a game since 2024. He's also on his fourth team since 2025.

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Even before Allegretti's injury, the center position was a concern. We made a case that it was more worrisome than who'd be the Commanders' No. 2 wide receiver in 2026.

Good-Jones struggled when taking over on Day 2 of training camp last week. Things weren't much better on Day 3. However, after a day off, Good-Jones looked much better on Monday, which was the first day in pads. While he looked much better, the position remains a concern unless he can perform consistently over time. If nothing else, Good-Jones could be helping his chances of making the 53-man roster as the only true backup center to Allegretti.

Wisely, head coach Dan Quinn has been having other players take snaps in training camp. Brandon Coleman, who is competing for the left guard spot, veteran tackle Trent Scott, Timothy McKay and Tyler Cooper. Coleman is the most intriguing name of the bunch. The Commanders truly believe the 2024 third-round pick can play all five positions. He's certainly athletic enough to move between tackle and the interior.

What does the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Coleman think of taking on another position?

"I mean, at TCU, during practice, working at it, and they just asked me, 'Hey, take some snaps after practice,'" Coleman told Mitchell Tischler when asked if he'd taken snaps at center before.

"You never know what happens.....but also, just for me, you never know when you're getting thrown in there, and I'd rather be comfortable than not."

Coleman played in 16 games as a rookie, starting 12 at left tackle. Last season, he opened the year at left guard, but was replaced by Chris Paul. He later returned to the lineup at left tackle when Laremy Tunsil missed the final few games and played well again.

It may be a little scary for Washington fans relying on so many inexperienced centers. If Allegretti can remain healthy, perhaps this is a moot point, but getting Coleman ready for an increased workload at center is a smart decision.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Brandon Coleman on staying ready if needed at center

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