The move will save Washington roughly $7.3 million in cap space. Leno missed the final three games of the 2023 season with a calf injury and one game earlier in the year because of a shoulder issue. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Leno is set to undergo surgery on his hip next week. At 32 years old, Leno was still an effective left tackle, ranking as Pro Football Focus’s No. 28 tackle last year. If the hip injury doesn’t linger into the 2024 season, Leno should be able to find a job, likely as a starter, elsewhere in the league.

Leno had missed Week 16 and evidently was not going to be ready in Week 18. With the Commanders since 2021, ex-Bear Leno is signed through next season but due no guaranteed money. He has been solid if not elite the past two years. 32 years old, there’s a non-zero chance Leno gets caught up in what should be a comprehensive Commanders rebuild.

Center Tyler Larsen has also been ruled out. Down two starting linemen versus an elite Jets defense, things aren’t looking good for Sam Howell. He will rank as a mid-range QB2 for his Week 16 matchup with the Jets.

Center Tyler Larsen was absent from practice because of a knee issue. Sam Howell has taken 59 sacks. That leads the league, as do his 15 interceptions. If he is without two starting linemen for Week 16, we wouldn’t expect things to get any better for the second-year quarterback.