Commanders OL Saahdiq Charles Looking to Stay Healthy, Step Up in Contract Year

The Washington Commanders are heading into training camp with a new starting guard in fourth-year pro Saahdiq Charles.

Charles, who turns 24 next month, was a fourth-round pick by Washington in 2020, three months after he won a National Championship protecting Joe Burrow with the LSU Tigers.

However, Charles has struggled to protect his own body from injury during his professional career. He has started in just eight out of a possible 40 games in his career so far.

"We always know Saahdiq had the skillset to do it," Rivera said. "He's gotta stay healthy. That's probably the biggest thing right now for him. I mean that always seemed to be the issue. If you go back and look at the times he's played, um, something has come up whether it's been the calf, it's been the ankle, the shoulder. You just hope that he stays healthy because he has the skillset.”

If he stays healthy and performs like his coaches believe he can, it will be massive for him and the team. 

Charles is a free agent at season's end, and he may not have a long future as a starting offensive lineman if he doesn't play well this season. But if he can stay healthy and give new quarterback Sam Howell some much-needed protection, he can parlay that into a long-term deal with the Commanders or another team willing to pay him millions on the open market.