The Washington Commanders didn’t find much rhythm on offense in their second preseason game, and that left the spotlight on defense in a 17-13 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Washington’s lone touchdown came the hard way, through a strip-sack forced by cornerback Amik Robertson. He finished with just that one tackle, but it was still enough to earn an honorable mention.
The real difference-maker, though, was defensive tackle Maurice Hurst.
Hurst has bounced around the league for years. Drafted by the Raiders back when they were still in Oakland, he spent three seasons with that organization before moving on to the San Francisco 49ers.
He missed the 2022 season with a torn bicep, then was with the Cleveland Browns from 2023 through 2025. In Cleveland, most of his time came on the practice squad, and he appeared in two regular season games last year.
Now Hurst is trying to carve out a roster spot with Washington, and he gave himself a strong push in the loss to Detroit. He was disruptive all game, finishing with five total tackles and two sacks.
His first sack came in the second quarter on a third-and-long while the game was tied 7-7. The second arrived in the third quarter with the Lions already in Commanders territory. For a player who joined the roster just four days earlier, it was a sharp preseason debut and enough to make him the Commanders Wire Player of the Game for Week 2 of the preseason.
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Jayden Daniels Brings Back A Fear Commanders Fans Know Too Well
Jayden Daniels second NFL season has already put Washington in familiar territory, and not in a good way. After a sprained knee, a hamstring injury and a dislocated elbow limited him to seven games, the concern around the Commanders is less about one rough stretch than the larger question of how they handle a young quarterback with real franchise upside. For a fan base that has seen this movie before, every hit and every hurried return carries extra weight.
Robert Griffin IIIs career is the warning sign hovering over all of it, a reminder of how quickly things can go sideways when a quarterbacks body and the teams protection plan are not aligned. That is why Dan Quinn and David Blough face more than a tactical challenge in Washington. They have to be willing to adjust the offense around Daniels, and if necessary, take the ball out of his hands for the sake of preserving the long view of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found An Undrafted RB Worth Watching
Robert Henry made a strong first impression in his preseason debut for Washington, giving the Commanders a little something extra to think about in a crowded backfield. The undrafted rookie piled up 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, then backed up the performance with a confidence that suggested he believes he belongs at this level. Fellow rookie Kaytron Allen also flashed with 85 yards and a touchdown, and even credited Henry for helping settle him into the game.
Dan Quinn had reason to notice Henry, too, especially on the protection side where the coach singled out his pass blocking. For an undrafted back, that kind of detail can matter just as much as the runs that show up in the box score, because it speaks to whether a player can stay on the field when the competition gets real. Washington will keep sorting through its options, but Henry at least made sure his name entered the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have An Offensive Line Concern They Still Havent Solved
The Commanders went into camp already carrying a real question at center, and it only grew more pressing when general manager Adam Peters moved on from starter Tyler Biadasz without bringing in a veteran replacement. Washington instead turned to Nick Allegretti, whose experience at the position is limited, as the next option in line, a gamble that has kept the middle of the line under scrutiny all summer.
Allegrettis calf injury only made the situation murkier, forcing Julian Good-Jones into the starting job for much of camp while sixth-round pick Matt Gulbin served as the backup. Head coach Ron Rivera has already acknowledged the challenge there, and the Commanders still need to sort out the position before the roster cutdown. [Read more 🡒]