Commanders sign former Pro Bowl tackle D.J. Humphries to bolster line depth

The Washington Commanders have moved swiftly to address a vacancy on their offensive line, signing veteran tackle D.J. Humphries to a one-year contract. The signing follows the release of Foster Sarell on Tuesday afternoon, a move that left the squad short-handed ahead of a scheduled joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens in Owings Mills, Maryland.

General Manager Adam Peters acted promptly to secure Humphries, a 32-year-old former first-round draft pick selected by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015. Humphries spent seven seasons as the Cardinals’ left tackle, during which he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. Since his release from Arizona in 2024, he has appeared in limited action, playing two games for the Kansas City Chiefs and eight games for the Los Angeles Rams, with one start.

With Humphries now on the roster, the Commanders project Brandon Coleman and Josh Conerly Jr. as their starting tackles. Humphries will join Trent Scott and Andrew Wylie in the reserve group, providing additional depth at the position. This configuration offers a more stable structure than the team possessed prior to the signing, although it is primarily a measure of veteran depth rather than an immediate shift in the starting lineup.

Despite the reinforcement at the edges of the line, governance of the offensive unit still faces challenges. Questions remain regarding the stability of the interior positions, specifically at left guard and centre, which have been identified as areas of concern. The addition of Humphries does not fully resolve these internal structural issues.

The next few days will be critical as the Commanders prepare for their upcoming practice. Peters is expected to make further roster decisions before the league-wide deadline to trim rosters to 53 players next Sunday. These final moves will determine the long-term stability of the offensive line as the team transitions into the regular season.