The Washington Redskins officially re-signed offensive guard Shawn Lauvao on Tuesday afternoon. Terms of the deal are unknown at this point. While the move brings back the guy who has been the opening day starter at left guard since 2014, that player is someone that the team wasn’t really sure about bringing back. The team has made attempts to replace Lauvao the last two offseasons to no avail. Washington is likely wondering if Arie Kouandjio is ready to step up and beat Lauvao out for the left guard position in camp. Something Kouandjio was unable to do last year.
Lauvao, 30, has started 41 games in four NFL seasons since the Redskins originally signed him as a free-agent in 2014. When healthy, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Problem is, over the span of those last four years, Shawn Lauvao has missed 23 games, or a full season and seven games of field time. Look no further than that stat as to why the team took as long as they did offering him a contract this offseason.
He made it all the way through free-agency without signing elsewhere, although it’s unknown at this point if any other team contacted him for a visit either. At any rate, now the Redskins will enter training camp with Shawn Lauvao, Arie Kouandjio, and UDFA Sean Welsh, who played guard at Iowa but might move over to center, currently on the roster at left guard. Those few weeks during the ‘dog days’ of summer will determine what the future holds at the left guard position for the Redskins.
Tons of ‘expert’ commentator talk has surrounded the idea of Ty Nsekhe moving from swing-tackle over to guard after the Redskins selected Louisville tackle, Geron Christian in the draft. While nothing but mild speculation has made its way around since that time, Christian is considered by many to be a future starting left tackle in the NFL. If he can handle the load, he may end up being the Redskins top backup on the offensive line at some point in the near future with Nsekhe becoming an unrestricted free agent next year. In the video below you can hear the often critical Chris Cooley give his praises on Christian.
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