ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders are signing veteran tackle D.J. Humphries, a source told ESPN on Tuesday.
The signing adds experience and depth on the left side of the line after Washington lost Laremy Tunsil to a torn triceps on Aug. 5. Tunsil underwent surgery, but the Commanders remain uncertain if or when he'll return, saying only that he will miss significant time.
Humphries would give the Commanders a back up for starter Brandon Coleman, who took over for Tunsil. Coleman started 15 games at left tackle in 2024, including all three postseason games as the Commanders reached the NFC Championship Game.
Washington did not have experienced options behind Coleman in the event he struggled or got hurt. Coleman has dealt with nagging injuries during his first two seasons.
Andrew Wylie has played almost every snap of his career on the right side, and all of his five snaps at left tackle were either as part of an unbalanced line or as an extra tackle. Trent Scott has started 26 games in eight seasons and often plays as a third tackle in goal-line or short-yardage situations.
But Humphries has started 101 games, most of them at left tackle, and made the Pro Bowl after the 2021 season. He started one game for the Los Angeles Rams last season and two the previous year with Kansas City. But he started 98 games in eight seasons with Arizona, including on the right side as a rookie before moving to the left.
The Commanders also lack experienced depth at center. Nick Allegretti, the presumed starter, has practiced only two days in camp because of a strained calf. That has left Julian Good-Jone -- who has played two snaps since entering the NFL in 2020 -- and rookie Matt Gulbin battling for a backup job.