The Commanders are staring at some real decisions as final cuts approach, and the safety room is right in the middle of it. For general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, the biggest question might be what to do with Will Harris after another shaky preseason showing in Washington’s loss to the Detroit Lions.
Harris came in on a two-year free-agent deal last week to help replace Jeremy Chinn, who left for the Las Vegas Raiders. But an early injury slowed him down, and even after getting back on the field, he hasn’t looked like the veteran Washington expected.
The latest problem came on a play where the Commanders were caught out by Joshua Dobbs, who kept the ball and ripped off a 50-yard touchdown run. Harris was among the players who misread the play, and while the blame may have been spread around, that kind of breakdown won’t sit well once the coaches dig into the film.
Josh Dobbs keeps it and takes it 50 yards for the Lions TD!
This would be the longest rush of Dobbs' career
Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Rex3EavFTw
- NFL+ (@NFLPlus) August 22, 2026
Meanwhile, other safeties are making stronger cases. Jones appears to be getting more out of Tyler Owens’ elite athleticism, Quan Martin has been making plays, and free-agent addition Nick Cross along with Jeremy Reaves look like roster locks.
Percy Butler also offers useful special-teams value. Harris, by contrast, is trending the wrong way.
That makes the preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens especially important. Quinn does value experience, and the Commanders know veteran presence matters in a big year. But this is also a new era, and reputations alone won’t keep anyone around if they’re not producing.
It would still be a surprise if Harris doesn’t make the 53-man roster. Even so, the final exhibition game should tell the story.
If he barely plays, or doesn’t appear at all, that would point to a safe spot. If he’s still on the field deep into the second half, the signs would be far less encouraging for the 2019 third-round pick.
If Washington does move on, the cap math is straightforward: it would clear $3.76 million while leaving $1 million in dead money. The Commanders don’t need the space in a huge way right now, with $37.67 million available, but every bit counts.
For now, Harris’ status is unsettled, and the preseason evidence is leaning against him. Even if he survives the cut, his place in the defensive rotation could end up being small. This one game against the team that drafted him has already become one he’d probably like to erase.
In Other News...
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 Suddenly Have A Roster Cut Battle Fans Need To Watch
The preseason scoreboard did not break Washingtons way in Detroit, but the Commanders did get one of those useful August reminders that the back end of the roster is still very much up for grabs. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, a recent addition, made the strongest case on the night with five tackles and two sacks, while cornerback Amik Robertson helped create Washingtons only touchdown by forcing a strip-sack that flipped momentum the other direction.
For a team still sorting out depth and roles, those are the kinds of performances that can linger well beyond one exhibition game. Hursts showing is the sort that puts a player squarely into the roster conversation, especially when the defense is looking for reliable pieces who can translate preseason flashes into something more lasting once cut-down decisions arrive. [Read more 🡒]