The Washington Commanders are dealing with some severe injury issues right now. However, head coach Dan Quinn is getting one of his franchise cornerstones back into the fold in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy absence.
Sam Cosmi hasn't been seen in a competitive setting since tearing his ACL in Washington's stunning divisional round playoff triumph over the Detroit Lions. It's been a long, grueling road back for the interior offensive lineman, but the coaching staff feels confident enough in his recovery to give him the all-clear.
This is going to give everyone a massive lift. The Commanders' offensive line has gone through some complications on the inside this season, although things have improved since Andrew Wylie and Chris Paul became the starting guard tandem. Cosmi is one of the league's most dependable right guards, so having him involved couldn't be coming at a better time.
Commanders parted ways with Jalyn Holmes to make room for Sam Cosmi
Unfortunately, this development wasn't good news for everybody. Wylie will probably go back to the bench, especially if Cosmi is ready for starting responsibilities. The Commanders also had to make room for the 2021 second-round pick on the roster, which came at the expense of defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes.
This was an eyebrow-raising decision. Holmes has been solid and is clearly ascending. He played 31.3 percent of defensive snaps against the Chicago Bears last time out. And with edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr.'s status in doubt due to a hamstring injury, it leaves Washington short of depth.
It was a bemusing choice, but Quinn and Adam Peters must feel like they have enough in the defensive trenches to compensate for Holmes' abrupt departure. Still, team insider JP Finlay from NBC Sports wondered if the Commanders made the correct choice by removing the former Ohio State standout from the equation.
Commanders releasing Jalyn Holmes is confusing to me. He’s been good. I get you needed a roster spot for Cosmi but that wouldn’t have been my decision
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 18, 2025
There's a chance Holmes gets a reprieve by coming back onto the practice squad. The Commanders called up Sheldon Day to fill the void in the short term, so it remains to be seen whether he'll get another shot in Washington. That's debatable, but one thing that cannot be dismissed is how vital having Cosmi suiting up is going to be for an offense that is severely depleted against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
It's all part of the business. Holmes probably feels aggrieved after his encouraging performance levels this season, but the coaching staff deemed him expendable to welcome back one of the team's legitimate difference-makers.