Washington’s preseason opener did more than give the Commanders a first look at their new pieces. It also started sorting the roster into winners and warning signs, with every snap carrying a little more weight as final cuts inch closer.
That’s the reality for a team still being evaluated on the fly. General manager Adam Peters’ busy offseason made the Commanders look deeper and more complete, but there are still areas that can wobble once the games start counting. With intensity set to climb over the next two weeks, the pressure is only going up before the roster decisions land.
Against the Miami Dolphins, some players seized the moment. Others didn’t. And with Washington heading into its second preseason game at the Detroit Lions, the first-round of evaluation has already sharpened the stakes.
One of the clearest winners was Antonio Hamilton Sr., whose strong showing may have locked down his place on the 53-man roster.
Washington needed help at cornerback, and the addition of Rasul Douglas before training camp was followed by Hamilton’s return. Hamilton had already flashed last season and carved out value on special teams, but he slipped a bit in the pecking order once some injured players got back in the mix.
He got another shot this summer, and he made it count against Miami. Hamilton was steady in coverage, led the team in tackles, picked up a pass breakup and added a tackle for loss. It was the kind of all-around outing that reminded Washington exactly why he matters.
With second-year corner Trey Amos dealing with injury concerns, Hamilton’s experience and special-teams ability give the Commanders something they can trust right now. That kind of insurance matters in August, and it matters even more when the margins are this thin.
In Other News...
Dan Quinn Just Raised A Real Concern About Trey Amos
Trey Amos recovery from a fractured fibula has hit a snag at a time when Washington could have used a clean ramp-up in the secondary. Dan Quinn made it clear there is real concern about how the cornerback is progressing, and the Commanders are taking a careful approach rather than forcing a faster return than the injury will allow.
With Amos still working through rehab and no timetable yet for his return, Washington has already moved to shore up the position by adding veteran Rasul Douglas for depth. For a defense that wants to keep its cornerback rotation steady, the situation now becomes as much about patience as it is about personnel. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinn Sent A Clear Message About Washingtons New Coordinators
The Commanders opened their preseason with a 20-7 win over the Dolphins, and the defensive side of the ball set the tone early. Washington piled up three interceptions and held Miami to 226 total yards, a strong start for a group that needed to show it could carry over the teams offseason work into live action. Marcus Mariota got the start at quarterback before leaving with a knee injury, which shifted the offense to Athan Kaliakmanis and Sam Hartman for the rest of the night.
Afterward, Dan Quinn made sure to highlight the first-game work of new coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones, a notable early marker for a staff that is still getting settled into game-week rhythm. Preseason results are never the whole story, but Quinns tone suggested the Commanders liked what they saw from the way the operation functioned, especially with the defense already giving them reasons to feel encouraged. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Defense Just Gave Fans A Reason To Believe Again
The first look at Washingtons defense under new coordinator Daronte Jones came with a familiar preseason warning label, but it still offered something the Commanders have been waiting to see. After Miami opened with a touchdown on its first series against the starting unit, Washington settled in and clamped down once the sides were on more equal footing, while also flashing the kind of playmaking that can change the mood around a defense in a hurry.
Quan Martin, Ale Kaho and Malik Spencer each came away with interceptions in the preseason opener, and the earlier joint practice reports added to the sense that the starting defense had been giving the Dolphins offense real trouble. It is still August, and the next test will matter more than one strong night, but for a fan base looking for any sign of a cleaner, sharper identity, this was the kind of outing that makes people look twice. [Read more 🡒]