The Washington Commanders’ joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens was supposed to be a measuring stick. Instead, it looked a lot like a warning sign.
Coming off Dan Quinn’s blunt message earlier in the week, Washington needed a cleaner showing after its sloppy preseason outing against the Detroit Lions. Quinn’s frustration had less to do with the loss and more with the way the Commanders played - disjointed, out of sync, and short on complementary football against Dan Campbell’s second- and third-string group at Ford Field.
Against a perennial AFC contender, the Commanders got a tougher read on where they really stand. The practice was hot, physical, and lopsided, with Washington struggling to generate many positives while some obvious weak spots jumped out. That gives Quinn and general manager Adam Peters plenty to sort through before final cuts this weekend.
The biggest issue came in the trenches, where Washington’s run defense had a rough day. The Commanders were already shorthanded, with Daron Payne, Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tim Settle Jr., and 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton all out. Newton remains sidelined long term with a torn pectoral.
Without that group, Baltimore reportedly had its way up front. Washington’s defensive line couldn’t consistently hold its ground, the Ravens found room to run early, and the Commanders never really stopped the bleeding. The gaps were too open, and that put too much on the linebackers.
That’s the real concern here: not just what happened in one practice, but what it says about the depth behind Washington’s top names. When healthy, the Commanders’ 3-4 front looked strong earlier this offseason. But if Payne, Settle, or Javon Kinlaw miss time, the drop-off could be severe unless Peters adds help.
The takeaway is hard to miss. Washington’s issues begin up front, and this practice made it clear that the lower end of the roster still needs work.
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