The Washington Commanders have told starting left tackle Charles Leno they’re releasing him, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the move had not been announced.
Leno, who finished last season on injured reserve because of a calf problem, is scheduled for hip surgery next week.
Leno, 32, started 47 games for Washington over the past three years after joining the team from Chicago. He played his first seven NFL seasons with the Bears, who released him in 2011.
Cutting Leno saves the Commanders $7.2 million in salary cap space, adding to their already abundant spending possibilities under new general manager Adam Peters. Even factoring in dead money from Leno, they have some of the most space in the league to use this offseason, with nearly $70 million at their disposal after factoring in money allocated for their rookie class.
Washington has the second pick in the draft and several holes to fill, including at quarterback and a replacement for Leno. Peters earlier this week at the league’s annual scouting combine skirted around whether he’d like to add a veteran QB.
“I feel like it’s really hard to evaluate quarterbacks, but you just try to get better and try to understand what you did the last time that was really good and what you did last time that was really bad,” Peters told reporters in Indianapolis. “Different processes. Hopefully there’s not a whole lot of bad things that you did, but you always learn. And so it’s constantly evolving and I don’t think anybody has the magic pill to understand that one.”
Beyond Leno, the entire offensive line could get an overhaul in the coming weeks and months, with Peters and new coach Dan Quinn reshaping the roster. The team brought in Kliff Kingsbury to be offensive coordinator, while Bobby Johnson came over from the NFC East-rival New York Giants to coach the O-line.
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