Tunsil Calls Conerly “A Dog” — Commanders O-Line Future Just Got Real

Laremy Tunsil Josh Conerly Jr. Bond Runs Deeper Than the Trenches

Laremy Tunsil has reached the stage where he mentors instead of just dominates. His personal project this offseason sits right beside him on the Commanders offensive line: second-year tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The five-time Pro Bowler sees something familiar in the former Oregon standout — raw hunger wrapped in serious talent.

“I see myself,” Tunsil said last week. “I don’t wanna sound cliché. I see a dog. I see somebody who wants it. He wants to be great.”

Those words landed with weight because Tunsil has lived the path Conerly now walks. Drafted in the first round by the Dolphins back in 2016, Tunsil battled early career noise, found his footing in Houston with five Pro Bowl nods, then landed in Washington via trade in March 2025. He knows exactly what separates promising tackles from the ones who anchor franchises for a decade.

The Alabama Grind That Changed Conerly’s Body

Conerly spent a big chunk of the offseason training with Tunsil in Alabama. Not casual sessions — full commitment. The veteran set the standard and the young lineman followed without hesitation.

“We’re working every day; every single day,” Tunsil explained. “He came to work with me every day. He ate right. It’s protein for lunch and breakfast. There’s no carbs for dinner. There’s supplements every day. It’s a routine that we have to live by.”

The results showed up immediately at minicamp. Conerly arrived looking leaner, sharper, carrying the kind of frame that comes from months of deliberate work in the heat. Tunsil didn’t sugarcoat the effort: “That’s us working our ass off in Bama.”

You could almost picture it — the Alabama humidity hanging heavy while these two massive men pushed through another set, another meal logged, another standard enforced. No shortcuts. Just the daily accumulation that turns good athletes into reliable NFL starters.

Why Tunsil’s Investment Hits Different

Conerly didn’t just show up talented. He arrived in 2025 as the 29th overall pick after a strong college career at Oregon that included elite pass protection numbers. Still, the jump to the NFL tested him early. Many young tackles face that baptism by fire. What separates the ones who last is often a veteran willing to close the gap between potential and execution.

Tunsil has done exactly that. He reached out to Conerly right after the draft, offered guidance, and kept the door open. That early trust now shows in the way Conerly has bought into the routine. The kid who once studied Tunsil’s tape growing up now shares the same workout grind and nutrition playbook.

“He has a lot of room for improvement, and he can keep getting better. That’s why I’m on him. That’s why I’m telling him to come and build this routine.” — Laremy Tunsil

The Commanders benefit in both the short and long term. Jayden Daniels needs clean pockets and reliable edges. A more polished Conerly strengthens that protection immediately. Long term, the franchise gains a potential cornerstone tackle who learned from one of the best in the business while still in his second year.

Tunsil Isn’t Slowing Down — He’s Passing the Torch

Approaching his 32nd birthday in August, Tunsil signed an extension and remains fully locked in. He still moves with the same burst and technique that made him a dominant pass protector across Miami and Houston. Now he channels that into making Conerly better every single day.

Offensive line success rarely happens in isolation. The best units are built on these exact relationships — veterans setting non-negotiable standards in the weight room, the meeting room, and the lunch line. Tunsil understands that better than most. He’s lived both sides.

Conerly has the athletic tools, the bend, the feet, and the football IQ. What he’s gaining now is the lived experience and the daily discipline that turn those tools into consistent dominance. The leaner frame at minicamp was step one. The real proof will come when the regular season pads pop and the games start counting.

This fall, watch how the left side of Washington’s line operates. The quiet work Tunsil and Conerly put in together during those Alabama mornings is already paying visible dividends. The dog Tunsil sees in his young teammate? That hunger is real — and it’s being fed the right way.