Ricky Barber may have done enough in Washington’s preseason opener to force his way into a conversation that looked crowded before kickoff.
With most of the Commanders’ established starters sitting out against the Miami Dolphins, the spotlight shifted to the players farther down the depth chart. Barber took that opportunity and ran with it, turning in the kind of performance that gets noticed fast in August.
Working on Daronte Jones’ 3-4 front at Northwest Stadium, the 2024 undrafted free agent showed plenty of burst and plenty of bite. He came off the snap with energy, held up well against the run, and kept finding his way into the backfield. By the end of the night, Barber had stacked up five tackles, one sack, and two quarterback hits.
That kind of stat line matters, but so does the way he got there. Barber looked comfortable in Jones’ system and played with the sort of confidence that can tilt a roster battle in a hurry. If he keeps that going over Washington’s final two preseason games, he could work himself all the way onto the 53-man roster.
The path won’t be easy. Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Tim Settle Jr., and Johnny Newton are expected to make the team, while Charles Omenihu and maybe even Deatrich Wise Jr. should be part of the rotation.
Beyond that, the picture gets hazy, especially with D.J. Davidson having retired.
Barber has already shown flashes before. In his two regular-season appearances for Washington in 2025, he recorded five tackles and a sack, and that earlier taste of game action seems to have helped him settle in. The Central Florida product is not just hanging around anymore; he’s making a case.
What happens next will depend on how many defensive linemen the Commanders decide to keep. Jones will have his own plan, and there could be a surprise or two in the mix. Everyone is starting from scratch, and production is what matters now.
That at least gives Barber a real shot. If he falls just short, he still looks like a strong practice-squad candidate, unless another team grabs him off waivers first.
For a defense that appears to be gaining traction under Jones, competition is doing exactly what it should. It’s sharpening the group, and it’s giving players like Barber a chance to rise. A few more outings like this, and the story around him starts to change for good.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Has Commanders Fans Worried About A Bigger Problem
A video clip of Jayden Daniels doing some light stretching has been making the rounds, and it has only added another layer of concern to a Washington offseason already shaped by his health. The Commanders quarterback was limited to seven games last season because of multiple injuries and was shut down for the final stretch, so even routine movement clips tend to draw extra attention from fans who are eager for signs that he is fully back.
Training camp reports have painted a better picture, with Daniels said to look healthy as the team moves through camp. Still, Washington is dealing with another important concern up front after the injury to left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and that creates a different kind of pressure on the offense. For a team that needs Daniels upright and protected, the bigger question may not be only how he looks in a video, but how stable the line around him can be when the real work begins. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Hartmans Commanders Roster Fight Already Looks Much Tougher
Sam Hartmans third offseason with the Commanders has turned into another tense stretch at the bottom of the quarterback room. He entered camp trying to carve out a real role, but Washingtons recent addition at the position has changed the tone of the competition and made every snap matter a little more. What once looked like a developmental battle now feels more like a test of whether Hartman can simply hang on long enough to stay in the conversation.
The depth chart reflects how steep the climb has become. Hartman is currently the lowest-ranked quarterback on the roster, and his path forward is far from clear as the team continues sorting through its options. For a player still trying to establish himself in Washington, the question is no longer just whether he can win a job, but whether there will be a place for him in the building at all. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A Backup QB Concern They Cant Ignore
Marcus Mariota was supposed to give the Commanders a steady hand in the preseason opener against the Dolphins, but his night ended much earlier than planned. The veteran backup completed 1 of 3 passes for 22 yards before leaving with a leg injury, after which Washington turned to Sam Hartman and then Athan Kaliakmanis to finish out the quarterback snaps.
Dan Quinn did not have an immediate update after the game, leaving the team to wait for a clearer picture on Mariotas condition. For a Washington roster trying to sort out depth behind the starter, any issue with the top backup is the kind of concern that can linger longer than a single preseason outing. [Read more 🡒]