The Washington Commanders open their preseason Friday night with the Miami Dolphins coming to Northwest Stadium, and the spotlight is already shifting away from the headline names and toward the roster battles underneath them.
Jayden Daniels is not expected to play in the first preseason game, which sets up Marcus Mariota to likely get the start. That also pushes the quarterback fight for the third spot into view, with Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis taking center stage. For a roster full of new faces, this is the first chance to show they belong, and plenty of them are trying to turn one game into a job.
That competition has already been shaped by injuries across camp. Laremy Tunsil’s torn triceps ended the left guard battle between Chris Paul and Brandon Coleman, with Coleman moving back to left tackle.
Nick Allegretti’s calf strain has kept him out for most of camp, forcing Washington to piece together both a starter and depth for practices and preseason action. John Bates’ hamstring injury has also opened the door for others, and Colson Yankoff has taken advantage over the last two weeks.
The game is set for August 14, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET and will air on WUSA, with Dan Hellie on play-by-play, John Riggins and Brian Mitchell as analysts, and Brian Colbert Jr. on the sidelines.
Radio coverage is on Big 100 through iHeart Radio, with Bram Weinstein, London Fletcher, and Logan Paulsen on the call. Spanish broadcast duties go to Moisés Linares and Juan Romero.
For those following along on the betting side, Washington is listed at +3.5 with a 36.5 over/under. The Dolphins are -164 on the moneyline, while the Commanders are +138.
Washington’s preseason slate continues with a trip to the Detroit Lions on August 22, then a matchup at the Baltimore Ravens on August 28. The regular season follows with road games at the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, before the Commanders return home for Seattle in Week 3 and Indianapolis in London in Week 4. The rest of the schedule stretches through matchups with the Chargers, 49ers, Eagles again, Rams, Giants, Bengals, Cardinals, Titans, Texans, and Falcons, with a bye in Week 7.
Prediction: Washington 20 - Miami 11
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Face A Quarterback Depth Problem To Watch
Marcus Mariotas brief work against the Dolphins was supposed to be a routine preseason tune-up, a chance for Washington to keep evaluating its quarterback room behind the starter. Instead, the veteran backup exited early after completing a 22-yard pass, leaving the Commanders to scramble for answers and reminding everyone how quickly quarterback depth can become a real concern in August.
The timing mattered because Washington was already leaning on other arms once Mariota went out, and the rest of the night underscored how little margin for error there is at the position. Head coach Dan Quinn had no immediate update after the game, which leaves the Commanders waiting on the health of a player they were counting on to steady things if needed. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Graphic Just Sparked A Jayden Daniels Debate Before Kickoff
A Dolphins preseason game-day graphic quickly turned into a talking point for Washington fans because it featured running back Jaylen Wright wearing No. 5, the same number worn by Jayden Daniels. The image arrived just as Daniels has been tied up in a separate jersey dispute with LSU over the use of No. 5, giving the graphic an immediate extra layer of context for anyone following the Commanders quarterback.
Miami has not said the post was meant as a jab or a reference to Daniels, but the timing was enough to set off plenty of speculation online. For Commanders fans, it was another reminder that Daniels profile has grown beyond the field, with even a preseason graphic drawing attention whenever his number shows up in the wrong place. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Get Early Encouragement And One Immediate QB Concern
The preseason opener gave Washington plenty to like in a 20-7 win over Miami, especially on a night when the defense spent much of the evening dictating terms. The Commanders intercepted three passes, the running game found the end zone twice with Robert Henry Jr. and Kaytron Allen, and the overall performance offered an early look at a roster trying to build momentum before the games count.
Marcus Mariota got the start at quarterback, but his night ended early because of a leg injury, which immediately shifted the focus from the result to his availability. Sam Hartman stepped in and helped lead scoring drives, giving Washington at least one encouraging answer behind center while the bigger question now is how long the Commanders will have to wait to know more about Mariota. [Read more 🡒]