5 takeaways from Commanders' win over Dolphins: Rookie RBs deliver
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders opened the preseason with a resounding 20-7 win over the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Miami opened the game with a 14-play, 93-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from superstar running back De'Von Achane.
Want to know what happened on Miami’s next 11 possessions? Six punts, three interceptions, a turnover on downs, and halftime. And this was Washington’s backup defense, with head coach Dan Quinn choosing to rest almost all of his starters on both sides of the ball.
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Here are five quick takeaways from Friday night’s preseason opener:
Running back position is deeper than initially thought
Remember when people had questions about the Commanders’ running backs? Some wondered if Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be a lead back. Others wondered why Rachaad White had little interest around the league this offseason. The same goes for Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols. Then the Commanders had a pair of rookies, sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen and UDFA Robert Henry Jr.
Croskey-Merritt, White and McNichols had the night off. Henry and Allen virtually had the game to themselves and they put on a show, combining for 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Henry showed excellent vision, cut-back ability and the potential to break off a long run. Allen banged in between the tackles, didn’t lose yardage and kept the chains moving. The Commanders will likely keep four backs, with many assuming Croskey-Merritt, White, McNichols, and Allen will win those four spots. Henry is now firmly in the mix. Each of these running backs offers a different skill set. There is excellent depth. This spot became more intriguing over the final two preseason games and one joint practice.
Athan Kaliakmanis won the 3rd QB job
Sam Hartman is in his third season with Washington, having spent the first two seasons on the practice squad, essentially serving as the fourth quarterback. Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota are back in the top two spots, but there is no veteran QB3 like Jeff Driskel or Josh Johnson in 2026. Washington may only keep two quarterbacks, but Mariota's injury status is unknown and could affect that strategy. Kaliakmanis entered the game in the third quarter and immediately moved the offense. He looked comfortable and had a live arm. He was accurate. Two preseason games remain, but Kaliakmanis took the job on Friday. Whether he serves as the QB3 on the 53-man roster or on the practice squad, he’s sticking over Hartman.
No separation at WR
We thought someone would separate themselves at receiver on Friday, but it didn’t really happen. Dyami Brown, Treylon Burks, Antonio Williams, and Van Jefferson all caught one pass. Jaylin Lane caught three, while Jaden Bradley caught two. Luke McCaffrey didn’t have a catch. I wouldn’t sound any alarm bells over that. To judge these receivers fairly, they need to play with Daniels and/or Mariota. The Commanders could keep seven wide receivers, but if they keep four tight ends and running backs as expected, that becomes more challenging. Some assume Jefferson is the odd man out, but Washington really likes the veteran. Others wonder about Burks, but the Commanders really love his potential, and he’s worked hard since his arrival. And McCaffrey, a former third-round pick, has gotten better in each of the last two seasons, and he’s had a solid camp. It's a good problem for Washington to have.
Ricky Barber over Johnny Newton?
The Commanders hope the light bulb comes on for Newton in 2026. The No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has yet to establish himself in the NFL. He was playing a lot of snaps early, meaning he’s battling for a spot behind Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu and Tim Settle. He’s competing with 2025 UDFA Ricky Barber Jr. and veteran Shy Tuttle. The Commanders like the veteran Tuttle as a run-stuffer off the bench. Barber spent last season on the practice squad until a late call-up. He flashed when he had the chance. On a night full of standout defensive performances, no one shined brighter than Barber, who had five tackles, including one for loss, a sack, and, alongside Newton, had a key fourth-down stop.
Barber still seems like he’s behind Newton, but it’s much closer than you think. These next two preseason games are huge for Barber and Newton.
Three turnovers: A sign of things to come?
Aside from the different uniforms, Washington’s defense looked unrecognizable on Friday night. It was forcing turnovers. The Commanders had three interceptions, and Kain Medrano dropped a would-be pick-six. They also forced a turnover on downs. Sure, it was the backups, and Miami isn’t very good, but you could see Daronte Jones' attacking style in the players' mindsets, especially the defensive backs. You can’t judge too much from this performance, but it is something to watch. Jones will be aggressive. It showed against the Dolphins, even with the backups. It was an encouraging debut for the new defensive coordinator.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 5 takeaways from Commanders' win over Dolphins: Rookie RBs deliver