In their first appearance of the 2026 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins fell to the Washington Commanders 20-7 in Friday night’s preseason game.
The Commanders’ rookie running back duo of Robert Henry Jr. and Kaytron Allen was unstoppable. The two combined for 160 rushing yards and a touchdown each, showing just how much depth Washington has at the position.
There's no reason to overreact since this was only a preseason game, but Dolphins fans finally got to see Malik Willis in action. Although he played just one drive, Willis went 4-for-5 for 43 passing yards, including an incredible 28-yard one-handed catch by rookie third-round pick Caleb Douglas.
De'Von Achane finished the opening drive with a touchdown at the goal line, giving fans a glimpse of three of the most important pieces of this offense contributing on the same drive.
The Dolphins came out swinging, but their backups were concerning. Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller combined for just four completions on 19 attempts for 66 yards and three interceptions.
With this being the first preseason game and Jeff Hafley’s first game as a Dolphin, there are no conclusions to be made just yet. However, the immediate explosiveness from the starters on offense is certainly something Dolphins fans can be excited about. Still, the backups left a lot to be desired.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins lose to Commanders but starting offense excites