How Commanders RT Josh Conerly set himself up to realize potential in second NFL season

Josh Conerly Jr.'s NFL draft profile listed him at 311 pounds. The Commanders had him at 315 shortly after selecting him at No. 29 overall in 2025, and thestarting right tackle finished his rookie year at 318.

Thatdoesn'tseem like much of a shift, but the Oregon productwasn'thappy with the weight or his body compositionat the time. He decided to do something about it, to be in the best shapepossible headinginto 2026.

I did cut a heavy amount at the end of last season, because I ended up at 318 or something," Conerly said. I waspretty fat. I cut down a lot of body fat and added somemuscle."

His strategy was simple: Eat a little cleaner. Eat a lot less."

Conerly went back to Oregon to work with strength coaches and a personal chef. He spent some time in Alabama training with Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil, never a bad idea from a conditioning and technical perspective. Then he came to the Commanders complex for the offseason program lookinglean and meanand ready to get better.

I feel like those three steps I took over the offseason were great for me,"Conerly saidafter a Tuesday OTA session open to the media.Hopefully I'm able to show that (it helped)."

Conerly believeshe'simproved and better prepared for his second NFL season. It also sounds like he took full advantage of his first professional offseason. Thepreviousone was compacted by NFLdraft prep, the Senior Bowl,combineprep and the draft. Selections report shortly after being taken, with arookieminicamp that rolls right into an offseason program already in progress.

The post-rookie offseason allows a player to truly reset, hone their craft and take a big leap.That'sConerly's goal heading into 2026. WhileConerlybeleiveshis added play strengthhas helped him handle the bulllrush,he'salsomaking some adjustments.

Just continuously getting comfortable in my stance," Conerly said. (I'm) not necessarily rebuildingit, butfinding ways to make it as comfortable as possible. Once I stepped out there (for OTAs)I felta lot more confident.I'mable to just be free."

Conerly's trying to improve upon a 2025 campaign that featured a rough start - he switched from left tackle to the right side after getting drafted - and some improvement as the season progressed.PerNFL Next Gen Stats, he allowed aroughly 9.9%pressure rate, which was high among right tackles, and that must come down.

He clearly has potential as a starting NFL tackle. Now he needs to realize it.

Offensive coordinator David Blough is trying to helphimand the offensive line do so, using the group's athleticism to Washington's advantage. Conerly is also a big believer inoffensive line coach Darnell Stapleton,who will lead the room after being an assistant positioncoachthe past two seasons.

He sat next to me in the meeting rooms all through my rookie year, so we already had a pretty close relationship," Conerlysald. In our meetings, just like when he ran a lot of our third-down meetings, I feel likewe'rea lot more interactive. I feel likemeand the guys are in a really great space right now.We'regoing to continue to just elevate."