The Commanders didn’t need their stars to make a statement in their preseason opener. They leaned on backups, rookies and a defense that spent Friday night harassing Miami into mistakes on the way to a 20-7 win.
Miami opened with a 14-play, 93-yard march that ended in a one-yard De’Von Achane touchdown, but that was about as clean as it got for the Dolphins. On their next 11 possessions, they managed six punts, three interceptions, a turnover on downs and halftime. Washington did it with head coach Dan Quinn resting almost all of his starters on both sides of the ball.
The clearest win of the night came in the backfield. Questions had been hanging over Washington’s running backs, with some wondering whether Jacory Croskey-Merritt could handle a lead role, while others pointed to Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols as uncertain pieces. Then the rookies took over.
Sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen and UDFA Robert Henry Jr. barely shared the spotlight with anyone else, and they made the most of it. Together, they rolled up 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Henry showed vision, patience on cutbacks and a knack for turning one crease into something bigger. Allen was the steadier hammer, working inside, avoiding negative plays and keeping drives alive.
Croskey-Merritt, White and McNichols were all held out, and Henry now looks firmly in the mix for one of what could be four roster spots at the position.
Washington may also have found its third quarterback. Athan Kaliakmanis entered in the third quarter and immediately got the offense moving.
He looked poised, threw with zip and stayed accurate. Sam Hartman has spent the last two seasons on the practice squad after arriving in Washington as a fourth quarterback type of presence, but Kaliakmanis took control of the QB3 conversation on Friday.
The Commanders may only keep two passers, and Marcus Mariota’s injury status could shape that decision, but Kaliakmanis made his case loud and clear.
Receiver, meanwhile, stayed crowded rather than clarified. Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Antonio Williams and Van Jefferson each had one catch.
Jaylin Lane finished with three, Jaden Bradley had two, and Luke McCaffrey did not catch a pass. That doesn’t mean much on its own, especially without Jayden Daniels or Mariota on the field to sort through targets.
Washington could keep seven wideouts, though carrying four tight ends and the expected number of running backs would make that difficult. Jefferson is viewed by some as the odd man out, but the team likes him.
Burks has support inside the building, and McCaffrey has reportedly improved each of the last two seasons while putting together a solid camp.
On defense, Ricky Barber Jr. made a strong push in the battle up front. Johnny Newton, the No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is still trying to find his footing in the league and was playing plenty of snaps early as he competes for a spot behind Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu and Tim Settle.
Barber, who spent last season on the practice squad before a late-season call-up, was the most disruptive defender on the field. He finished with five tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and, with Newton, helped produce a key fourth-down stop.
Newton still appears to be ahead, but the gap may be smaller than it looks.
The other big defensive takeaway was the turnovers. Washington came away with three interceptions, and Kain Medrano nearly added a pick-six.
The Commanders also forced a turnover on downs. Yes, it came against Miami’s backups, and yes, the Dolphins did not look sharp.
But the aggression was obvious, especially in the secondary, and it fit the tone Daronte Jones appears ready to bring as defensive coordinator. It was only one preseason game, but the style showed up immediately.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Has Commanders Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
A video clip of Jayden Daniels doing some light stretching has been making the rounds, and it has only added another layer of concern to a Washington offseason already shaped by his health. The Commanders quarterback was limited to seven games last season because of multiple injuries and was shut down for the final stretch, so even routine movement clips tend to draw extra attention from fans who are eager for signs that he is fully back.
Training camp reports have painted a better picture, with Daniels said to look healthy as the team moves through camp. Still, Washington is dealing with another important concern up front after the injury to left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and that creates a different kind of pressure on the offense. For a team that needs Daniels upright and protected, the bigger question may not be only how he looks in a video, but how stable the line around him can be when the real work begins. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Hartmans Commanders Roster Fight Already Looks Much Tougher
Sam Hartmans third offseason with the Commanders has turned into another tense stretch at the bottom of the quarterback room. He entered camp trying to carve out a real role, but Washingtons recent addition at the position has changed the tone of the competition and made every snap matter a little more. What once looked like a developmental battle now feels more like a test of whether Hartman can simply hang on long enough to stay in the conversation.
The depth chart reflects how steep the climb has become. Hartman is currently the lowest-ranked quarterback on the roster, and his path forward is far from clear as the team continues sorting through its options. For a player still trying to establish himself in Washington, the question is no longer just whether he can win a job, but whether there will be a place for him in the building at all. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A Backup QB Concern They Cant Ignore
Marcus Mariota was supposed to give the Commanders a steady hand in the preseason opener against the Dolphins, but his night ended much earlier than planned. The veteran backup completed 1 of 3 passes for 22 yards before leaving with a leg injury, after which Washington turned to Sam Hartman and then Athan Kaliakmanis to finish out the quarterback snaps.
Dan Quinn did not have an immediate update after the game, leaving the team to wait for a clearer picture on Mariotas condition. For a Washington roster trying to sort out depth behind the starter, any issue with the top backup is the kind of concern that can linger longer than a single preseason outing. [Read more 🡒]