Report: Lucas Patrick remains Washington’s starting center, pushing Nick Allegretti back

Washington’s offensive line picture at center appears to be settling, at least for the immediate stretch. According to a report from Pro Football Rumors, Nick Allegretti has again been demoted from a starting role in Washington, with Lucas Patrick remaining the team’s starting center after getting the job early in the 2026 season. The update matters because center is a high-leverage position in the NFL, responsible for snapping, identifying fronts pre-snap, and anchoring protection calls.

The backdrop to the situation is roster turnover at the position. The report states that Allegretti began the 2026 campaign as the preferred option to replace Tyler Biadasz, who is described as a free agency casualty. That framing suggests Washington entered the season believing Allegretti could bridge the gap at center, but the team ultimately leaned toward Patrick as the starter once the regular season got underway.

Per the same account, Lucas Patrick has been Washington’s starting center for each of the past two weeks. The report further says that Patrick will remain the starter moving forward, attributing the expectation to The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala. In practical terms, that means the coaching staff is comfortable with the current center assignment and is not treating center as a weekly experiment.

For Allegretti, the shift is notable not just because it removes him from the starting lineup, but because it reportedly matches what happened previously. Pro Football Rumors characterizes it as the second year in a row that Allegretti has been demoted from a starting role in Washington. That pattern points to a long-running evaluation process around how Washington wants its interior line to function in pass protection and against complex run fronts.

It is also worth noting what is not in the report. It does not provide game-by-game grades, injury details, or any specific transactional moves tied to the demotion. Without official confirmation from the Commanders or the NFL, the report should be treated as a best-read of the team’s current plan rather than a definitive statement about performance or health across the board.

Still, the decision has clear roster-management implications. Interior line roles often affect practice reps, continuity in protections, and how quickly the rest of the front can trust the line’s call structure. With Patrick reportedly set to remain the starter, Washington can continue building cohesion at center rather than reshuffling responsibilities week to week.