DJ Humphries signs with Commanders to replace injured Laremy Tunsil

The Commanders needed a left tackle fast. Laremy Tunsil, their starter at the position, is dealing with a triceps injury that's going to keep him out for a big chunk of the season, and Washington wasn't about to just roll with what it had. So on Tuesday, they brought in DJ Humphries for a workout.

That workout didn't take long to turn into a deal. Adam Schefter, who broke the news of the tryout, followed up less than 10 minutes later with the confirmation everyone saw coming.

Humphries is no stranger to left tackle duty. He was a first-round pick back in 2015, spent 8 years starting for the Cardinals, made a Pro Bowl in 2021, and has 101 career starts to his name. He signed with the Rams last offseason but only saw the field for 8 games and a single start in Los Angeles. Now, at this stage of his career, he gets a real shot to be a starter again, and Washington gets a tackle who's been in this exact role before, not a project.

The move slots Humphries in alongside Andrew Wylie as battle-tested depth up front while the Commanders wait on Tunsil's timeline. Brandon Coleman is reportedly still ticketed to start in Tunsil's spot for now, but having Humphries in the building gives Washington real insurance at a position that can wreck a season in a hurry if it's not handled right.

It's a one-year deal, so this isn't Washington building for the long haul at tackle — it's about surviving the next several weeks without their franchise left tackle and keeping the offensive line stable enough for whatever the Commanders are trying to do this season. If Tunsil comes back healthy, Humphries becomes a savvy vet in the room. If the injury lingers, he might end up being one of the more important offseason additions nobody predicted.