Commanders Retain Lucas Patrick as Starting Center
The Washington Commanders have confirmed that Lucas Patrick will continue as their starting center, marking a second consecutive year of demotion for Nick Allegretti. Allegretti began the 2026 season as the primary candidate to fill the center position after Tyler Biadasz's departure but has struggled early in the season.
Allegretti, now in his third year with the Commanders, joined the team in 2024 after a stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite starting every game in his first season with Washington, he faced challenges in maintaining his starting role, being benched early in the 2025 season. This year, after a calf injury, he initially returned to the starting lineup but was replaced by Patrick due to underwhelming performance.
Patrick, who has a history of starting roles in the NFL, has shown improvement at center, prompting the Commanders to favor him moving forward. As the team prepares for Week 5, Allegretti's future role remains uncertain, especially with right guard Sam Cosmi expected to return from injury.
