Two Commanders named to NFL's 'All-Backup Team'

Adam Peters had his hands full when he was hired as the general manager of the Washington Commanders in 2024. The roster was in shambles due to the previous regime. Peters had to flip the roster, which meant various new starters on both sides of the ball.

That strategy worked in 2024, as Washington went 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game. One year later, injuries ravaged the roster, and the Commanders didn't have the depth to overcome them.

Heading into his third season with Washington, Peters was again busy this offseason. He focused on upgrading the defense while adding more depth to the offense. How much better is the Commanders' depth heading into 2026 than at any point over the past two years?

Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently named an NFL All-Backup Team, using at least one player from every roster. The goal was to create a 53-man roster full of backups to see if it could compete in the NFL. The Commanders had two players on this roster: guard/tackle Andrew Wylie and linebacker Leo Chenal.

Two former Chiefs make it to our team of backups. Wylie is an ideal sixth lineman, a utility player with significant starting experience at guard and tackle. He could start at either right guard or right tackle in a pinch. Chenal will play in base defense for the Commanders, but when they're in their nickel package, he'll likely come off the field with Frankie Luvu and Sonny Styles staying on. Chenal was excellent for the Chiefs in their second Super Bowl victory over the 49ers and offers our team sound tackling and some meaningful thump against the run.

I'm not sure you can call Chenal a backup. He's going to play a lot. He's a big part of Washington's defensive overhaul, but Barnwell is correct in saying that Frankie Luvu and Sonny Styles will also play a lot.

As for Wylie, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better and more versatile backup offensive lineman. He started at right tackle for the Commanders in 2023 and 2024, before moving into a backup role last season. Wylie can play four positions on the offensive line. Last season, he appeared in 16 games, making five starts at guard. He re-signed this offseason and will continue to be a big part of Washington's offensive line for the next two seasons.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Two Commanders named to NFL's 'All-Backup Team'