LANDOVER, Md. — The Miami Dolphins played their starters in their preseason opener, and the first-team offense found the end zone in a 20-7 loss to the Washington Commanders.
Starting quarterback Malik Willis and running back De’Von Achane combined to orchestrate a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive while rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas made a highlight-reel catch during the initial series in the Dolphins’ exhibition against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
Willis was 4 of 5 for 43 yards against the Washington second-team defense. Achane had seven carries for 39 yards and punched in a 1-yard touchdown behind the starting left side of the Miami offensive line.
Douglas hauled in a 28-yard pass from Willis with one hand as he fought through pass interference from the Commanders’ Antonio Hamilton Sr. Willis’ lone incompletion went to Douglas, who was open with space in front of the sideline but stuck his left foot out too far and was out of bounds. Willis’ other three completions went to third-year slot receiver Malik Washington.
The Dolphins started the series backed up at their own 7-yard line because running back Jaylen Wright muffed the opening kickoff and linebacker Tyrel Dodson was called for a hold.
The Dolphins started with Willis, Achane, Douglas, Washington, tight end Will Kacmarek and fullback DJ Herman, along with the first-team offensive line of, from left to right, Patrick Paul, Kadyn Proctor, Aaron Brewer, Jonah Savaiinaea and Austin Jackson.
Dolphins defensive starters were: Chop Robinson, Josh Uche, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Trey Moore, Dodson, Willie Gay, Chris Johnson, Jason Marshall Jr., Zayne Anderson, Michael Taaffe. Johnson, the rookie cornerback, was in uniform pregame after missing Wednesday’s joint practice for unknown reasons.
Dodson and Phillips combined for a hit on Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota that knocked him out of the game, bringing in Sam Hartman.
By the second series, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was in for Dodson. He rushed Hartman, leading to a pass bat-down from defensive end Robert Beal Jr.
Hartman later was intercepted by veteran cornerback and American Heritage High grad Marco Wilson, as the Washington quarterback threw high looking for Dyami Brown to end the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Dolphins backup quarterback Quinn Ewers gave the ball right back, throwing to a spot where there was no eligible receiver on an apparent miscommunication. Quan Martin came down with the interception for the Commanders.
Ewers struggled, finishing 1 of 8 with the interception. His one completion was to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert for 27 yards. The second-year quarterback had a particularly bad miss, when he had tight end Cole Turner open on a post and missed well behind him.
Johnson nearly had an interception in the end zone. He dropped it on a Hartman pass to the sideline that was behind its intended target. Defensive ends Max Llewellyn and David Ojabo split a sack to follow, as the Commanders settled for a field goal.
Washington later took a 10-7 lead as running back Robert Henry Jr. scooted down the right side for a 22-yard touchdown run. Edge defender Cameron Goode was sealed off by a block to open up the sideline, as safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. missed Henry at the goal line.
Washington scored again before halftime with rookie running back Kaytron Allen punching in a 1-yard touchdown. Cornerback Ethan Bonner made two fine plays in coverage in the end zone before the rushing score.
After the first-team offense exited, Miami looked inept on that side of the ball.
Ewers got one drive in the second half, before third-string quarterback Cam Miller entered. Miller’s first snap, from under center Andrew Meyer, ended up on the ground as he quickly picked it back up to maintain possession.
Several of Miller’s intended targets dropped passes in the second half, including fullback DJ Herman, tight end Seydou Traore and wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. Miller ripped a 24-yard completion to wide receiver AJ Henning on a third-and-16.
Miller was intercepted twice, first by Commanders linebacker Ale Kaho, who was underneath wide receiver Tahj Washington’s crossing route in a zone, and then by Malik Spencer.
Behind Achane, Nos. 2 and 3 running backs Wright and Ollie Gordon II had six rushes for 22 yards and seven for 39 yards, respectively.
In the fourth quarter, defensive end Mason Reiger had a sack. Llewellyn then deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage.
Tahj Washington made a special teams play, downing a Bradley Pinion punt at the 2-yard line.
Dolphins players who sat were mainly the ones known to be dealing with injuries in training camp, although linebacker Jordyn Brooks did not play and is not known to be injured. Along with defensive tackle Zach Sieler, safety Dante Trader Jr., cornerback JuJu Brents, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr., offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, tight end Ben Sims were among those not dressed.
The Commanders did not play most starters in Friday’s exhibition. That list of players either resting or injured included: quarterback Jayden Daniels, running backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White, wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive linemen Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw, linebackers Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson and Frankie Luvu and their entire starting secondary.