The Commanders got an early answer at kicker, and the rest of the roster battles took a step toward clarity in Friday night’s 20-7 preseason win over the Dolphins.
Drew Stevens is the guy for now. Washington’s reported release of Jake Moody on Monday afternoon pointed straight to the undrafted rookie from Iowa as the winner of the competition, assuming he keeps performing and the team doesn’t bring in another challenger.
Beyond that, though, a few spots are still very much up for grabs, and the Miami game gave the staff a fresh look at where things stand.
At running back, the picture is crowded. Bill Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White sit at the top, with sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen also in the mix.
Jeremy McNichols will miss a few weeks with a quadriceps injury, which kept him out Friday and will also sideline him for a stretch of practice. Jerome Ford returned the opening kickoff but barely played.
That opened the door for Robert Henry Jr., and the undrafted rookie from Texas-San Antonio made the most of it. He ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, flashing the kind of burst that can turn a preseason game into a real audition.
The questions now are the ones that matter for a fourth back: can he protect the passer, and can he help on special teams? McNichols remains a proven option, so even with the injury, he’s still in the mix.
Center is another spot worth watching. Nick Allegretti is scheduled to return to practice on Tuesday, which is a welcome sign after the position has been without its starter since the first camp practice. Julian Good-Jones, the top reserve, has had his share of struggles in camp, and there was video Friday of him getting beaten in the game.
Matt Gulbin, meanwhile, drew positive reviews. Mark Tyler noted him playing well at center as a pass protector and as a blocker at the second level, and Quinn praised Gulbin’s performance during a Sunday press conference.
Quinn also said Gulbin will get some reps at guard, a nod to his versatility and a possible path to becoming a 2026 depth piece. Allegretti still looks locked in as the starter, but the backup job is open enough that Gulbin could move into the No. 2 spot.
At safety, Quan Martin turned in a solid outing while lining up with Will Harris early. He played a little more than expected for someone who has been featured heavily over the last two seasons, but he’s in a real battle with veteran Jeremy Reaves. Quinn also suggested Reaves and three-down starter Nick Cross could get featured in a Week 2 preseason game at Detroit, giving the staff a better side-by-side look.
Martin helped himself Friday, but he still has work to do. He was often a liability last season - he had a 155 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 - and Washington needs more stability from the back end in 2026.
Cross should supply part of that, but he needs a reliable partner who can hold up in coverage and deep. Martin showed enough to stay in the conversation; now it’s Reaves’ turn when the reps come.
Quarterback took a hit when Marcus Mariota suffered a right MCL sprain early in the game. That pushed most of the work to Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis, and that setup should continue, with Mariota expected to miss the entire preseason. Quinn said the Commanders do not anticipate adding another quarterback.
Jayden Daniels is the starter, Mariota is the backup, and the team will keep one developmental third quarterback. Friday’s game gave Kaliakmanis the edge.
He showed solid arm talent, while Hartman was inefficient, missed some throws, and threw an interception that reflected shaky decision making. Both need cleaner play to grab the QB3 job, and the receivers need them to be sharper as well.
The next clue will come from which passer gets the second-team reps while Mariota is out.
Wide receiver remains one of the most interesting groups on the roster, even if Friday didn’t settle much. Stefon Diggs has already changed the conversation by giving Washington proven production at the No. 2 spot. Antonio Williams is expected to be featured in the slot, though it was notable that he didn’t enter Friday’s game until the third quarter.
Jaylin Lane made some catches. Treylon Burks was involved.
Dyami Brown is still in the mix, and Luke McCaffrey is part of the picture too. Even with two receivers bringing return value and special teams help, it’s hard to see the Commanders keeping seven wideouts.
Undrafted rookie Jaden Bradley is also in the hunt.
There’s still plenty of sorting to do. The first preseason game gave Washington a few hints, but most of these battles are still wide open.
In Other News...
Dan Quinn Just Raised A Real Concern About Trey Amos
Trey Amos recovery from a fractured fibula has hit another rough patch, and that has quietly become a real issue for Washingtons cornerback room. Dan Quinn said hes concerned about Amos progress and stressed that the team has to be careful with the return-to-play process, which is never a comforting sign this time of year when players are trying to stack healthy practices and keep momentum.
For now, there is no timetable for Amos to get back on the field, leaving the Commanders to manage a position group that cant afford many more surprises. Washington has already added veteran Rasul Douglas for depth while Amos rehabs, a move that underscores how much the club is trying to protect itself in case the setback lingers longer than hoped. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinn Sent A Clear Message About Washingtons New Coordinators
The Commanders preseason opener against Miami offered an early look at how the new staff pieces fit together, and the defense made the loudest statement in a 20-7 win. Washington picked off the Dolphins three times and held them to 226 total yards, a strong start for a unit trying to set the tone under new leadership. Marcus Mariota got the first crack at quarterback before leaving with a knee injury, and Athan Kaliakmanis and Sam Hartman finished the game in relief.
Dan Quinn had reason to leave satisfied with more than just the result, especially after seeing first-game work from coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones. The preseason setting is never a perfect measuring stick, but it does matter when the game looks organized and the operation stays steady through substitutions, injury, and the usual noise that comes with an opener. For Washington, the next step is finding out whether that early command translates once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookie Robert Henry Jr. Is Giving Washington Something To Think About
Robert Henry Jr. wasted little time giving the Commanders a reason to take a longer look. The undrafted rookie running back showed up in his first NFL preseason game with a steady, productive night on the ground, then added another layer to his case by taking on return duties as well. For a player trying to carve out a roster path, that kind of versatility can matter almost as much as the box score.
Henry left the game sounding upbeat but not satisfied, which is usually a good sign this early in camp. He said he felt confident and pointed to areas he still needs to clean up, a fair reminder that one strong preseason showing does not settle anything. Still, Washington now has a rookie who has at least put something real on tape, and that is the sort of development teams tend to notice when roster decisions start getting serious. [Read more 🡒]