The Washington Commanders have decided to move on from their starting guard Andrew Norwell. The team placed Norwell on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Tuesday and will cut him once he is able to pass his physical.
Commanders are expected to get $4.38 million in salary cap relief if Norwell is released with post-June 1 designation. The 31-year-old player was set to earn $4.42 million in base salary in 2023.
Norwell joined the Commanders as a free agent last offseason. He was expected to stabilize the left guard position on the shaky offensive line, but that never happened. Washington’s coaching staff reportedly considered his play inconsistent and believed they were better off by filling the position with some of their younger players.
The Commanders will most likely turn to Saahdiq Charles, their fourth-round pick from 2020, to step in for Norwell. Last year’s seventh-round selection Chris Paul is also expected to receive a look during training camp.
Andrew Norwell started his NFL career as the Carolina Panthers’ undrafted free agent out of Ohio State. After earning an All-Pro selection with the Panthers in 2017, Norwell left the franchise in free agency and signed a five-year, $66.5 million contract with Jacksonville Jaguars to become the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
