Commanders open roster door with IR designations for Laremy Tunsil and Johnny Newton

The Washington Commanders have taken a roster-management step that keeps two major rebuilding pieces on the field in a later window. According to Yahoo Sports, the team placed left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton on injured reserve on Monday but structured the timing so Washington could designate both players for return at some point during the 2026 season.

In the NFL’s injury reserve framework, teams can use designations to adjust when an injured player is eligible to come back. Yahoo Sports reported that the Commanders waited to finalize these moves until after the initial 53-man roster was set, which matters because it preserves flexibility for return designation once the league’s procedural gates are cleared.

The Commanders’ approach suggests a preference for stability early in the season while still maintaining a path to add depth at two critical spots along the line. Tunsil’s role at left tackle anchors a unit responsible for protecting the quarterback’s blind side, while Newton’s work as a defensive tackle is typically aimed at controlling gaps in the middle and collapsing interior running lanes.

Washington’s Monday transactions also included retaining familiar rotational options on defense and special teams. Yahoo Sports’ report said the Commanders re-signed cornerback Fabian Moreau and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle, moves that report the organization is shoring up experienced depth while players on IR work their way through recovery.

Because the Yahoo report is not an official league or team release, the exact nature of the injuries and specific return dates were not provided in the available summary. What is clear is the team’s intention to avoid foreclosing either player’s season, as reflected by the stated ability to designate them for return during the regular season or playoffs.

For fans watching the Commanders’ season unfold, the key follow-up is whether Washington later activates Tunsil and Newton once the return designation window opens and how the team’s early roster holds in the weeks before that. The ripple effect is also practical: staffing decisions at tackle and interior defensive line influence weekly game plans, especially in matchups that demand tight pass protection and strong run fits.

If both players reach the active roster in-season, the Commanders could see a measurable improvement in continuity on both sides of the ball. But until activations occur, the story for August is roster math: placing players on IR without closing the door, while using re-signings to keep depth functional for the first stretch of the schedule.