NFL
By: Courtney Byrd
The Washington Commanders opened the preseason with a 20-7 win over the Miami Dolphins on Friday night, and while the final score does not mean much in August, there was plenty to take away from Washington’s first game action of the year.
Jayden Daniels and several other starters did not play, shifting the focus to players fighting for roster spots and trying to earn bigger roles before the regular season begins. Washington got off to a slow start, but the Commanders eventually settled in behind a productive running game and a defense that created three turnovers.
Miami controlled the opening minutes of the game.
New Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis led a 14-play, 93-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock. De’Von Achane finished the possession with a one-yard touchdown run, giving Miami an early 7-0 lead.
For a Washington defense that has talked throughout training camp about playing fast and creating turnovers, the opening drive was not exactly the start it wanted.
But that ended up being Miami’s only score.
Washington’s defense looked much more comfortable as the game went on, keeping the Dolphins scoreless over the final three quarters and forcing three interceptions.
Ale Kaho, Quan Martin and Malik Spencer each came away with a pick. Kaho returned his interception 22 yards, while Martin and Spencer helped prevent Miami from building any momentum after its strong opening possession.
The response was probably more important than the rough start itself. Preseason football is going to come with mistakes, especially when starters are sitting, and coaches are evaluating different combinations of players. Washington did not allow those early mistakes to carry throughout the rest of the game.
The running backs were another group that stood out.
Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. made the most of their opportunities and gave Washington two of its best offensive performances of the night.
Allen received a heavy workload, carrying the ball 23 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. He was not breaking off huge runs every time he touched the ball, but he consistently kept the offense moving and showed he could handle a high number of carries.
Henry brought a different element.
On just 12 carries, he rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown while averaging 6.3 yards per attempt. His 22-yard touchdown run was one of Washington’s biggest offensive plays of the night. He also added a 30-yard kickoff return, giving the coaching staff another look at what he can provide beyond the backfield.
Together, Allen and Henry accounted for 160 of Washington’s 174 rushing yards.
That is one position battle that became a little more interesting after Friday night.
The biggest concern coming out of the game was at quarterback.
Marcus Mariota started with Daniels sitting out but was on the field for only a short time before leaving with a knee injury. He completed his lone pass for 22 yards before his night ended.
Mariota has since been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and is expected to miss the rest of the preseason, although Washington hopes to have him available when the regular season begins.
His injury meant more opportunities for Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis.
Kaliakmanis finished 6-of-10 for 87 yards, while Hartman completed eight of his 15 attempts for 80 yards with one interception. Neither threw a touchdown, and Washington’s passing game never really became the story of the night.
Instead, the offense leaned heavily on the ground game.
Washington ran the ball 41 times compared with 27 pass attempts. The Commanders scored both of their touchdowns on the ground and finished with 174 rushing yards.
The receivers had a quieter night, although several players got involved.
Jacoby Jones led Washington with 33 receiving yards on two catches, including a 28-yard reception. Jaylin Lane caught three passes for 31 yards, and Colson Yankoff added 24 yards on two receptions. Dyami Brown had a 22-yard catch, while Treylon Burks and Antonio Williams each recorded a 16-yard reception.
With Washington still sorting through its receiver depth behind its established veterans, those opportunities will continue to matter over the next two preseason games.
There were also some individual defensive performances worth watching.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. finished with five tackles, four of them solo, along with a tackle for loss and a pass defended. Ricky Barber also recorded five tackles and provided some pressure up front with Washington’s only sack and two quarterback hits.
Special teams did its job as well. Jake Moody connected from 29 yards, Drew Stevens made a 41-yard field goal, and both converted their extra-point attempts.
There is always a temptation to read too much into preseason football.
Washington was without Daniels and several players who will have significant roles once the regular season begins. The Dolphins were evaluating their roster too. The 20-7 final score matters much less than what coaches were able to learn about the players who were on the field.
Still, Washington’s first preseason game gave the team some positives to build on.
The defense had a rough first drive and responded by shutting Miami out the rest of the night. Allen and Henry made the running back competition more interesting. Three different defenders came away with interceptions, and several younger players received valuable reps they may not get once the regular season begins.
The Mariota injury is the biggest development to monitor, especially with two preseason games remaining.
Next up is Detroit.
The Commanders travel to face the Lions on Saturday, Aug. 22, for their second preseason game. With another round of roster cuts getting closer and competition continuing throughout the depth chart, players who made an impression against Miami will have another opportunity to show it was more than just one good night.
