The Commanders got plenty to like out of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Dolphins in Ashburn, but the day also put a spotlight on a few soft spots that could matter once the real games start. Washington’s defense overwhelmed Miami for stretches, and Jayden Daniels kept stacking strong days in David Blough’s offense. Even so, the offensive line remains the biggest place to watch.
The most obvious issue sits right in the middle. Center was already a question all offseason, and it only looks bigger now.
Nick Allegretti is entering his eighth NFL season in 2026, but most of that experience has come at guard. The Commanders moved on from Tyler Biadasz before free agency, and the path they took there suggested they were chasing Tyler Linderbaum until the Raiders jumped in.
Allegretti became the fallback option.
Then came the setback in camp. On the first day, Allegretti strained his calf, and more than two weeks later, he still hasn’t returned.
Behind him are Julian Good-Jones and rookie Matt Gulbin, who have just two career NFL snaps between them. That kind of thin margin is hard to ignore.
Washington looked fine on Wednesday, but the center spot has real fragility attached to it, especially with Laremy Tunsil’s injury making the whole picture even messier.
That center uncertainty also feeds into a bigger worry: the run game. Miami had success handling the interior of Washington’s offensive line on Wednesday, particularly when it came to run blocking.
Chris Paul still has work to do as a run blocker at left guard, while Sam Cosmi is steady enough on the right side. The scheme should help, since Washington is using zone blocking and the group is athletic overall, but so much hinges on Allegretti being the answer.
If the ground game stalls, David Blough’s offense loses a major piece of what it wants to do, and the burden shifts back onto Daniels to carry too much.
Josh Conerly Jr. also had a mixed day, which is worth noting even if nobody should overreact. There’s been plenty of buzz about a possible breakout in 2026 after he settled in late last season, and he spent the offseason working out with Tunsil while reshaping his body.
Wednesday was uneven. He got beaten badly on one snap and picked up a penalty, though he also had some wins.
That’s not a red flag by itself, but it does matter because Washington can’t afford both tackles to be shaky, especially with Tunsil out. The Commanders need Conerly and Cosmi to be a strength, not another question.
There is some good news in all of this. Brandon Coleman looked really good for the most part.
And despite the concerns up front, Washington still had the better of the day overall. But the joint practice also made clear where the pressure points are.
The center spot, the run game, and Conerly’s early-season readiness are all things the Commanders have to keep tracking closely.
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Commanders Kicker Battle Could Swing On Drew Stevens This Week
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Stevens has handled himself well enough in practices to keep the battle interesting, while Moody brings the experience edge into a matchup that now shifts from camp fields to game action. The preseason is where Washington will try to sort out which leg it trusts most for the long haul, and every kick from here on out carries a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]