The Washington Commanders’ preseason opener belonged to the rookies, and Friday night’s 20-7 win over the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium gave the coaching staff plenty to sort through.
It was also the first in-game look for rookie coordinators Daronte Jones on defense and David Blough on offense, a notable checkpoint as both stepped into NFL coordinator roles for the first time with Washington.
On the ground, rookie back Kaytron Allen handled a heavy workload and made the most of it. He carried 23 times for 85 yards, scored a touchdown, and ripped off a long run of 16 yards.
Another rookie runner made an even louder entrance. Robert Henry Jr., an undrafted free agent out of UTSA, turned 12 carries into 75 yards and added a 22-yard touchdown run.
He also brought back a kickoff for 30 yards.
At quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis got his first NFL action and finished 6 of 10 for 87 passing yards. He showed some comfort operating from the pocket, and his night came with enough composure to offer a little more than the outside noise expected after the heavy criticism aimed at GM Adam Peters for drafting the Rutgers quarterback.
The kicking battle also stayed clean. Incumbent Jake Moody and rookie Drew Stevens each made their lone attempts. Moody’s came from 29 yards after the ball hit the right upright, while Stevens connected from 41 yards.
Washington’s defense, which struggled badly in turnover production in 2024 and 2025, came up with three interceptions against Miami. Quan Martin, Malik Spencer, and Ale Kaho all picked off Dolphins quarterbacks, and linebacker Kain Medrano nearly added another, but dropped what would have been a pick-six.
Up front, Ricky Barber stood out on defense with five tackles, including three solo stops, and a sack. NT Shy Tuttle also had a solid showing with three tackles, one solo, and a tackle for a loss.
There were encouraging signs from the tight end room as well. Colson Yankoff continued to make the most of his chances, catching two passes and delivering a strong block that helped spring Kaytron Allen. Jaylin Lane added three receptions for 31 yards in his second season out of Virginia Tech, and Dyami Brown, back with Washington this offseason, opened the game with a 22-yard catch on the Commanders’ first offensive series.
Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels did not play, leaving Marcus Mariota to start under center. Mariota completed one first down pass to Dyami Brown, then took a hit, ran one more snap, and went down pointing to his knee. He headed to the blue tent, then walked to the locker room and did not return.
Washington said 26 players were out Friday night, a number that fit the pattern for this staff after Dan Quinn sat out 30 Commanders in the 2025 preseason opener.
The game itself started slowly for Washington on defense. Miami opened with a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive, a rough beginning before the Commanders settled in and took control.
Washington returns to action next Saturday with a trip to Detroit to face the Lions.
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Marcus Mariotas preseason night against the Dolphins ended much sooner than Washington wanted, and not just because of the score. After connecting on a 22-yard pass, the veteran backup left the game with an apparent leg injury, forcing the Commanders to reshuffle their quarterback plans on the fly and lean on the other passers available behind center.
It is the kind of moment that can turn a routine August tune-up into a real concern, especially for a team trying to sort out its depth chart and keep a steady hand available if needed. The Commanders did not get an immediate update from Dan Quinn after the game, leaving Mariotas status and the broader quarterback picture hanging over what should have been a straightforward preseason outing. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Get Early Encouragement And One Immediate QB Concern
The Commanders opened the preseason with a 20-7 win over the Dolphins, and there were enough encouraging signs to go around before the night got complicated. Marcus Mariota started at quarterback for Washington, the defense picked off three passes, and running backs Robert Henry Jr. and Kaytron Allen each found the end zone as the team set an early tone on both sides of the ball.
Mariotas night ended early because of a leg injury, though Sam Hartman stepped in and helped guide scoring drives to keep Washington on track. In August, the results matter less than the health of the quarterback room, and that leaves the Commanders with one immediate concern to monitor even after a solid preseason opener. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Preseason Win Just Changed Two Key Roster Battles
Washingtons preseason win over Miami offered more than a clean final score, because plenty of the roster math around the Commanders got a little clearer. The running back group, in particular, got a useful jolt from the kind of game coaches love to see in August, with rookies and depth players getting real chances to separate themselves while the team sorted through its back end.
Robert Henry Jr. gave that battle some real shape with a strong all-around showing, and Kaytron Allen also helped himself with an efficient night. Elsewhere, the quarterback competition and the secondary both had moments that mattered, as Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis did not produce the same kind of impression and Malik Spencer and Quan Martin each came away with key plays, leaving Washington with a few roster questions still to settle. [Read more 🡒]