Robert Henry Jr. has already found out how fast the NFL can turn on you.
A few strong days can make an undrafted rookie look like he’s forcing his way into the conversation. A rough game, though, can cool that momentum in a hurry. That’s the spot the Washington Commanders running back is in now as final cuts approach and his roster fate hangs in the balance.
Henry, the UTSA product, came into camp after not hearing his name called during the 2026 NFL Draft, but Washington saw enough to give him a shot in a crowded backfield. He responded with encouraging progress, and his work in the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins helped put him on the radar as a legitimate contender for a 53-man roster spot when Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles arrives.
Then came preseason Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, and the tone shifted quickly.
Henry got just four carries at Ford Field and finished with minus-three rushing yards. He also caught his only target for five receiving yards, but the roughest moment came when he fumbled a kickoff return that eventually led to a Detroit turnover. In a battle this tight, those are the kinds of mistakes that can change everything.
He’s not out of the picture yet, but he’ll need a big finish to keep pushing his case. The Commanders’ preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens should tell the story of where he really stands.
If Henry is barely used there, that would point toward a spot on the team. If he’s getting most of the work deep into the game, that’s not a great sign for his chances.
Washington still has other backs in the mix. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and free-agent signing Rachaad White are in position to take through, while sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen has not done much in the preseason but brings a physical style nobody else on the roster offers. Jeremy McNichols is injured right now, but his leadership and special teams value should still help him make the team.
That leaves little room for anyone else, Henry included.
At this point, the practice squad looks like his most realistic landing spot. It would give him a chance to keep developing and stay close in case Washington needs him later. It may not be the immediate outcome he wanted, but it would still keep the door open.
For Henry, the lesson has come fast. He’s only been through two preseason games, yet he’s already seen how quickly the league can lift you up and knock you back down. The next few days will decide whether that learning curve continues in Washington.
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 🡒]