A short stay in Washington
The Commanders released veteran offensive tackle D.J. Humphries today, sixteen days after signing him.
The reason he arrived was straightforward. Laremy Tunsil, a five-time Pro Bowl left tackle, tore a triceps muscle in August and landed on injured reserve on Aug. 31. Washington brought in Humphries on Aug. 26 to cover the position while the coaching staff worked out what came next.
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Coleman wins the job by default
What came next is Brandon Coleman. The 2024 third-round pick is expected to start at left tackle on Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles, which means Washington has chosen a second-year player over a 32-year-old with a Pro Bowl on his record.
That decision reads as a judgement on readiness rather than pedigree. Humphries had barely two weeks in the building and arrived with no training camp reps in the scheme.
A career that started late and never fully settled
Arizona took Humphries in the first round in 2015, and his first NFL snaps did not come until 2016. He went on to make the Pro Bowl with the Cardinals in 2021, the high point of eight seasons in the desert.
Since leaving Arizona he has moved every year: Kansas City in 2024, the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, Washington for sixteen days in 2026. His career total sits at 108 games and 101 starts, a ratio that says teams trusted him when he was on the field.
He turns free agent in the middle of Week 2, at an age and position where the phone still rings.
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