Colson Yankoff, Kaytron Allen among Commanders to watch in preseason vs. Dolphins

We’ve got a Commanders game on the immediate horizon, with live tackling and everything. It has been a while since the Burgundy and Gold teed it up, but they’ll do exactly that on Friday night against the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium.  

While it’s real football, it’s also a preseason game that doesn’t really count. Nothing’s official yet, but it’s hard to imagine many, if any, frontline Commanders players entering the fray on Friday. That’s especially true on the heels of Wednesday’s joint practice with Miami, when intensity cranked up in a more controlled environment with less injury risk.  

That doesn’t make Friday’s action a waste of your time. There’s plenty to settle this preseason, with positional battles being waged and important roles being figured out.  

You should keep an eye on the players below, plus a few others, to get a greater grasp on Washington’s roster and its progress learning new offensive and defensive schemes.  

I’ll select eight (okay, technically nine) right now and add pick two more from your article comments below. One caveat: They must have great odds of playing. I’ll add two players to watch and your explanation/analysis from the comments to the main story on Friday morning. 

TE Colson Yankoff 

The UCLA product and tight end convert has been awesome during training camp, with several big plays in camp practice. He has looked really good as a receiver and is pushing for an offensive role after primarily being a core special teams player.  

Showing well in games will only serve to strengthen his argument for playing time and targets on offense. He could be a high-volume target in preseason games, especially if Ben Sinnott doesn’t play many snaps.  

RB Kaytron Allen 

Top running backs rarely get run during preseason games – why take the punishment in games that don’t count? — so it seems likely Bill Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White won’t play Friday. Jeremy McNichols is dealing with an injury, per Ben Standig, so sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen should get fair amounts of work. 

Allen’s a tough, punishing runner with some solid camp moments, but we’ll get a better view of him and the Commanders running game in a contest with live tackling.  

EDGE Joshua Josephs 

Observers have had good things to say about Joshua Josephs, a fifth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, to this point in training camp. The Commanders need a capable rotation off the edge behind Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson. Having Josephs fit into it is vital, considering his roster spot is virtually secure.  

Watch him work as a pass rusher and an edge setter in run defense. He’ll need to perform well in both areas to be trusted in key moments of regular-season games. 

K Drew Stevens/Jake Moody 

The Commanders kicking battle heated up during last week’s training camp practices. Incumbent Jake Moody had some pronounced struggles on kicking days, though both guys had a rough go on Monday. It’s assumed that both kickers will participate in each game, with the pressure ramped up in those situations. Stevens seems to have the early edge on the kicker job, but there’s time for Moody to make a comeback starting on Friday.  

DL Johnny Newton 

The former second-round pick started to assert himself in 2025, as our MattinBrisVegas explained in this detailed article on the interior defensive lineman.  

Mark Tyler also believes Newtown could be a breakout player in 2026, citing that new coordinator Daronte Jones’ scheme could fit him well. That’s all I need to hear. Now I need to see Newton’s dominance in action. 

DB Quan Martin 

Quan Martin got an “-OR-” designation at free safety on Washington’s unofficial depth chart, meaning he and Jeremy Reaves are in a position battle to be a regular at that spot. Martin must show well in the preseason to help secure his spot. Also, how will he be featured in these games? As a deep safety? Will he see time in the slot? Is he part of the three-safety looks we assume we’ll get under Jones? Martin must answer lots of questions this summer to earn a prominent role in this defense.  

C Julian Good-Jones 

 Presumptive starter Nick Allegretti suffered a calf strain during the first camp practice and hasn’t returned. He could be back as early as Sunday, leaving little time for backup Julian Good-Jones to inspire confidence in him as a depth piece. While it’s uncertain if the first-unit offensive line will play on Friday, it would behoove the Commanders to give Good-Jones plenty of snaps to evaluate him at the center spot.  

Fans are clamoring for the team to look outside the organization for center help. Good-Jones could slow those demands with a good performance on Friday night. He must also stave off competition from Matt Gulbin and newcomer Daniel Brunskill, making these games key.  

WR Jaden Bradley 

An undrafted rookie out of UNLV, Jaden Bradley has been well-hyped this summer. Terry McLaurin has taken Bradley under his wing. On-site reporters say Bradley has looked like an NFL-quality receiver, and he must continue to support that argument in the preseason.  

The Stefon Diggs addition heightened competition at receiver, meaning it’ll be tough to secure a 53-man roster spot. Bradley can force the issue with big plays and solid blocking in the run game. He could push for a practice-squad spot as well, by building confidence through quality performances.  

Who else deserves to be on this list? As a reminder, I’ll add two of your suggestions from the article comments — be sure to add a short explainer/analysis — to this story on Friday morning.