Most of the Commanders who are expected to matter in 2026 won’t be out there Friday night when Washington closes the preseason against Baltimore. Dan Quinn made that much clear this week, saying the frontline guys would get the heavy work in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Ravens instead of taking a big preseason load at M&T Bank Stadium.
So the game is really about the fringe spots now - the players fighting to stick on the back end of the 53-man roster or carve out a place on the practice squad. The main decisions are mostly baked in, but there’s still value in one last strong showing. A clean finish can still tilt a tight battle.
Ricky Barber is one of the clearest names to watch. The first-year pro spent most of last season on the practice squad, and he’s put together a solid camp and preseason on top of that.
Washington’s defensive front got a major upgrade, but Johnny Newton’s torn pectoral muscle opened the door for someone like Barber. Through the first two preseason games, he leads the team with 10 tackles and a sack, and he was also effective when he was elevated from the practice squad in 2025.
He already looks like a practice-squad hold, unless another team claims him on waivers, and he could even push for a job if Washington keeps six defensive linemen. Byron Cowart is in that same mix, so Barber could use one more strong outing to cap what has already been a good summer.
Darius Rush is another player with a real case. He’s the kind of athlete teams like to keep around because he brings value on special teams, and that work often goes overlooked.
He cares about the kicking game and has the kind of profile that can help on coverage and return units. If he shows a little more on defense Friday - even just enough to hint at growth there - it strengthens his argument to stay in Washington.
The 53-man roster might be a stretch, but a practice squad role and game-day elevation opportunities are very much in play.
Ale Kaho has also made a push this preseason. He’s flashed the athleticism and special teams ability that make a reserve linebacker useful, and the Commanders appear to like him.
If Washington keeps a fifth linebacker, he’s in the conversation. His main competition is fellow UCLA product Kain Medrano, an Adam Peters draft pick with a similar skill set.
At this point, Medrano probably has the edge, but this one could go all the way down to the wire. Even if Kaho doesn’t grab a roster spot, it’s hard to imagine him not landing on the practice squad.
Jaden Bradley has been one of the more talked-about undrafted rookies in Commanders camp, and the buzz around him has been mostly positive from players, coaches and observers. The UNLV product has earned attention by making plays and working hard.
His performance has put him in the conversation for a roster spot, though that’s a difficult climb in a crowded receiver group. Still, teams do sometimes choose upside and special teams value over a veteran with a known ceiling, and Bradley fits that kind of gamble.
Whether he forces his way onto the initial 53 or lands there briefly before a later move, he’s got one more chance Friday to make Adam Peters think twice about trying to sneak him through waivers and onto the practice squad. The battle for the sixth receiver spot is crowded, but Bradley has made his case loud enough to keep hearing his name.
D.J. Humphries is a different case entirely.
He’s the veteran of the group, and not someone fighting for a long-shot roster miracle. After Wednesday’s joint practice, he made it clear to reporters that he’s not being asked to rescue the left tackle spot.
He’s in Washington to give depth behind Brandon Coleman. Friday will still be useful, though, because it should offer a quick look at what Humphries has left at this stage.
He’s only had a small amount of scheme knowledge to work with after spending most of camp without an NFL team, so any reps he gets against Baltimore will help show where he is right now.
In Other News...
Commanders Just Sent Another Clear Message About Dan Quinns Defense
The Commanders have already made a quick adjustment on the edge, parting ways with outside linebacker Boogie Basham just days after bringing him in. Basham got a long look in a recent preseason game, logging 36 snaps, but it wasnt enough to convince Washington to keep him around as the roster starts to take shape under Dan Quinns defense.
For Basham, its another stop on a winding NFL path that has already included Buffalo, the Giants and Carolina. For Washington, its another sign that the staff is being selective about who fits up front, with every preseason rep carrying real weight as the team sorts through its pass-rush depth and defensive roles. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have A Real Chance To Upgrade One Troubling Depth Spot
With the roster cutdown deadline looming Sunday at 6 p.m., the Commanders are still sorting through the back end of the roster and looking for ways to sharpen a few depth spots. Holding the No. 7 position in the waiver order gives Washington a meaningful chance to take advantage of other teams' releases, especially at a point in the year when a lot of usable players are about to become available.
Carlos Basham's brief stay after being signed earlier in the week was a reminder that this stage of the calendar is all about constant movement and short evaluations. For Washington, the real question now is whether that waiver priority can be used to address one area that still looks unsettled, with the front office forced to balance immediate help against the reality of a crowded roster that has to be trimmed fast. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders First Cuts Put More Veteran Jobs In Doubt
The first wave of roster trimming is underway in Ashburn, and it already tells you how much pressure is building around the bottom of the Commanders roster. Washington released four players as it works toward the league limit of 53 by Sunday, part of the annual churn that can reshape the back end of a team before the season even begins.
Boogie Basham and D.J. Johnson were among the linebackers let go, while Joshuah Bledsoe and Qwuantrezz Knight came off the safety depth chart. All four have NFL experience, which makes these decisions more than routine housekeeping, and it suggests Washington is willing to keep moving on from veterans if the staff believes younger or more versatile options are better fits as the cuts continue. [Read more 🡒]