The Washington Commanders might be getting some more help on the offensive line in the near future.
The Commanders announced on Wednesday that guard Sam Cosmi, who suffered an ACL injury during the Divisional Round of the playoffs, has been designated to return to practice. The team now has 21 days to return him to the active roster, ending a nine-month journey for the guard to return to the field.
Cosmi knows he'll need to get up to speed and into game shape before making his 2025 debut, but he's eager to get back with his teammates.
"I'm feeling pretty confident right now," Cosmi told reporters after Wednesday's practice.
Cosmi has been quietly working towards an eventual return to practice for the better part of a year. The only updates, aside from seeing him occasionally working with trainers, have come from head coach Dan Quinn, who has been impressed with Cosmi's progression.
"Sam is doing excellent," Quinn said in May. "Like he has really put the work in. He's hitting all the markers that he's supposed to. We're not gonna miss one step along the process. But it starts with him, man, like just the, the everyday intensity that goes with it."
The reality was a bit more arduous compared to all the good news Quinn has delivered in recent months. Cosmi said he went through "a lot of downs" through the recovery process, mentioning that he's gone from "crawling around the house" to walking and practice. He often wondered how he would get through the process and thanked his wife as well as the training staff for getting him through it.
Another significant factor in him staying motivated was the organization and his teammates.
"We still have a really special team, and so the brotherhood here is still very strong and alive," Cosmi said. "So, I can't wait to get back on the field with my guys. This has allowed me to really have another level of passion for the game."
For the next three weeks, Cosmi's main priority is to get up to speed and ingratiate himself back into the game plan. He took his first step towards that on Wednesday, as he took all the scout team reps without any limitations on his knee. He was able to "really put some weight" on his knee, which made him confident about working in pads on Thursday.
Despite all the strides he has taken, Cosmi knows there is still more progress to be made.
"I still gotta get into football shape a little bit," Cosmi said. "Working out...pushing myself on the field, the contact, the physicality, the demand of that alone. I gotta get a couple practices underneath my belt. So, just doing that will help a lot, too."
The Commanders have done well in Cosmi's absence through four games, contributing to a ground attack that ranks second in the league. Pass protection is still a work in progress, as they have switched out their interior players, but so far, it's on a better pace compared to the 50 sacks the offense gave up in 2024.
However, the Commanders will likely need Cosmi in their next stretch of games, which includes matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. The hope is that Cosmi will get on the field sooner rather than later, but no matter when he returns, the team -- and Cosmi himself -- will be grateful to be back.
"I really...appreciate this game, because it can really be taken away from you in a split second," Cosmi said. "You could go from on the top of the mountain right to the depths of the ocean. So, I'm so happy and blessed."
