Antonio Williams got his first taste of NFL football in the Washington Commanders’ preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, and the rookie wideout came away with more than just a box score line. He caught one pass on three targets for 16 yards, but the bigger value was in everything around the snap-to-snap action.
For a rookie, preseason can be about much more than the stat sheet. Williams said the experience of getting into the stadium, feeling the crowd and learning the rhythm of an NFL game gave him a clearer picture of what comes next.
“Felt good to get out there and get your feet wet, be in front of the crowd, first time seeing the stadium. So, it was a lot of experiences to take in at [once].
But, I think I learned a lot from that game just in terms of my routine and when I need to arrive and what I need to do to be ready,” Williams said. “Besides actually playing and getting in front of the fans, I think that is the biggest thing for me.
It’s different from college. You don’t have a mandatory bus you got to be on or staying at a team hotel.
But, you get to drive to the games. So, it’s a lot [different] and first experience like that of mine.
So, it was big for me.”
That adjustment matters, especially with the attention Williams has already drawn during camp. He has stood out in training camp and in the Commanders’ joint practice with the Dolphins, adding to the buzz around what kind of role he can carve out in the offense this season.
His college production also helps explain why there’s optimism. Williams’ 2024 season with the Clemson Tigers restored some of the shine after last year hurt his draft stock. He put up more than 900 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, tops in the ACC.
Williams and the Commanders will now turn toward the regular season, with their first game set for Sun. Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. on FOX against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In Other News...
Commanders Face Tough 53-Man Calls After Surprise Preseason Risers
Two preseason games have already given the Commanders a better read on some of the roster battles they thought might take longer to sort out. With final cuts approaching, Washington has been using these games to separate the steady from the shaky, and a few competitors have clearly helped themselves along the way. Athan Kaliakmanis has been one of the more notable risers, especially after Marcus Mariotas injury opened the door for more scrutiny at backup quarterback.
Kaliakmanis has taken advantage of the opportunity, putting together encouraging recent performances that have improved his standing in the QB picture. He is not the only one making the decision harder, either, as Joshua Josephs and Kaytron Allen have also shown enough progress to strengthen their cases for the 53-man roster. For a team trying to trim the margins, that kind of late momentum can matter just as much as any early summer depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinn Sent Commanders A Clear Message After That Lions Showing
A sluggish preseason showing against the Lions was enough to prompt a noticeable change in the Commanders routine Monday, when the scheduled walk-through was bumped in favor of a full practice. Dan Quinn then met with reporters afterward, and the altered plan fit the tone of a head coach clearly trying to sharpen the edge around a team still early in its summer work.
With a joint practice against the Ravens coming up, the message from Quinn was less about easing through the week and more about raising the standard now. The switch in plans suggested he wanted his players locked in and moving with purpose, a small but telling reminder that he is not interested in letting an uneven preseason outing linger or turn into anything bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Joshua Josephs Is Making A Stronger Commanders Case Than Expected
Joshua Josephs has already done something in August that tends to get a rookie edge rusher noticed fast. The fifth-round pick for Washington found the end zone on a defensive touchdown in the Commanders second preseason game against the Detroit Lions, giving the defense a rare jolt and offering another reminder that the front seven is still trying to build its identity under new coordinator Daronte Jones.
It was also the Commanders first defensive touchdown since the 2024 divisional playoff round, which adds a little more weight to a play that usually gets filed away as a preseason highlight. For Josephs, the bigger takeaway is the way he has kept stacking encouraging moments while Washington leans into a turnover-driven approach, and that kind of early momentum can make a young pass rusher much harder to ignore when roster decisions get real. [Read more 🡒]