Could the Washington Commanders get star left tackle Laremy Tunsil back this season? A recent social media post from Tunsil gave Washington fans a glimmer of hope that one of the league’s best offensive linemen could return before the end of the season.
Tunsil, who signed a two-year extension in the offseason, once again became the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman, tore his triceps during a training camp practice on Aug. 8. It was a devastating blow for Tunsil personally and for the Commanders. Most believed Tunsil would miss most, if not all, of the upcoming 2026 regular season.
At 1-4-1, Washington is coming off its bye week and hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. Despite a rough start, the Commanders remain firmly in the NFC
East mix. Could a few Washington wins push Tunsil to return sooner than anticipated?
First, here’s the social media post that got everyone talking this week.
Hold up.
— Deuce_Redzone (@redzoneinthelab) October 26, 2026
If he is preparing to return at the state we're in, that speaks a lot to the character of Tunsil.
It also tells me how much he believes in Jayden. pic.twitter.com/m52q83yW8k
It’s been nearly three months since Tunsil’s triceps surgery. The injury usually keeps players out for 4-6 months, with offensive linemen often on the higher end because of the strenuous nature of the position. With Tunsil’s social media post, head coach Dan Quinn was asked about his star left tackle.
“He is about just a few weeks away from his next visit to check where the healing is, and that,” Quinn said about Tunsil. “So, in a few weeks I’ll have a better assessment, but his next appointment’s just weeks away, not months away. We’ll have a better sense when we get to that. And all the steps that we’ve had, he’s hit; he’s healing. So, he’s where we expected him to be, and it’s good to see him here working and doing all the things, but until we get to that next hurdle, we’ll have a better sense then.”
While it was nice to see Tunsil possibly teasing a return, don’t count on it. For one, if Washington is still losing more than it wins when Tunsil is close to returning, bringing him back then would almost feel like malpractice. However, if the Commanders go on a winning streak and are in the running for the NFC East in December and January, you probably shouldn’t rule out Tunsil.
Whether Tunsil returns in 2026 or not, the fact that he's pushing and staying close to the team speaks volumes.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders LT Laremy Tunsil update: Is he nearing a return?
