The Washington Commanders’ preseason slate is set, and it gives fans three chances to get a look at the team before the regular season begins this fall.
Washington opens with its only home exhibition, hosting the Miami Dolphins on Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. ET at Northwest Stadium.
That game comes just days after a joint practice session with Miami, and those workouts have often been a better barometer of where the team stands than the preseason game itself. It should also offer a useful snapshot of the top roster battles that have developed over the past few weeks.
From there, the Commanders hit the road for the next two weeks. Their second preseason game comes Saturday, Aug. 22 at noon ET against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Unlike the other two, this one is not tied to a joint practice. The middle preseason game usually gives coaches the clearest look at the players they expect to use during the season, or the ones who need more film.
For Washington, that could mean a closer look at offensive-line combinations, secondary roles and the backup quarterback competition. The noon kickoff is also worth keeping in mind.
The finale arrives Friday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. ET against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
That game follows a joint practice session in Owings Mills, Maryland, and it will be shown locally on WUSA9 as well as nationally on NFL Network. As is often the case in the last preseason game, the focus figures to be on players still fighting for roster spots, while the joint practice may end up being the more meaningful work for Washington’s first-team units.
All three preseason games will air locally on WUSA9, Washington’s CBS affiliate. NFL+ will carry all live out-of-market preseason games, and the Baltimore game will also be available on NFL Network. The games can also be heard on BIG 100.3 FM.
Washington’s regular season opens Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
In Other News...
Commanders Receiver Battle Just Opened The Door For An Overlooked Rookie
The Commanders spent the offseason adding pieces in a few spots, but receiver still looks like one of the thinner areas on the roster. After not bringing back Deebo Samuel and making only modest additions in free agency, the room has opened up enough that an undrafted rookie can at least get a real look, and Jaden Bradley is trying to turn that chance into something more than a camp footnote.
Bradley arrives with some college production from UNLV and a profile that gives Washington a different kind of lottery ticket at the position. He is still a long shot, especially with Van Jefferson and Treylon Burks among the names fighting for what could be the last spot, but the path is there if he can stack together a standout summer and make the coaches keep finding reasons to watch him. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Just Fueled Brandon Aiyuk Talk In Washington
Adam Peters didnt exactly shut the door on the kind of roster chatter that always follows a name like Brandon Aiyuk. Asked about whether a players social-media habits can matter in personnel decisions, the Commanders general manager said the team weighs plenty of factors, even if that sort of online footprint is not usually near the top of the list. It was the kind of answer that keeps a rumor alive without feeding it too much oxygen.
Dan Quinn also leaned into the moment, recognizing the tactful way the question was framed as Washington continues to be linked, however loosely, to the 49ers receiver. If the Commanders ever got serious about that kind of move, Jayden Daniels would naturally be part of the conversation, which is why Peters answer landed with a little more weight than a routine offseason comment. For now, the interest is more about how Washington is thinking than what it is actually about to do. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made A WR Move That Raises Bigger Questions
Training camp has barely gotten underway, and the Commanders have already added another name to the receiver room by signing River Cracraft. Hes a familiar face in Washington after a brief stint with the team last season, and the move comes as the club continues to sort through its options behind Terry McLaurin at a position that still feels like it could use more help.
General manager Adam Peters has made it clear the team is looking at more than just talent when it evaluates possible additions, saying the process includes everything from locker-room fit to culture. With receiver speculation still swirling around names like Stefon Diggs, the Cracraft signing feels more like a small roster move than a final answer, leaving the bigger question of how aggressive Washington plans to be at the position. [Read more 🡒]