How Commanders preseason win vs. Dolphins influenced key position battles

The Commanders entered training camp with several key position battles needing resolution.  

One has come early. Washington sided with Drew Stevens in the kicker competition, a point made clear by Jake Moody’s reported release on Monday afternoon. That made the undrafted rookie out of Iowa the choice, assuming Stevens continues playing well and no other competition is added.  

There are several unsettled position battles on this roster, though Friday night’s preseason game had some influence on them. Let’s reexamine the state of a few roster spots following that 20-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium.  

Running back 

The Commanders might have a tough time deciding how to round out their running back room. Bill Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White are obviously the top options, with sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen firmly in the mix.  

Veteran Jeremy McNichols will be out a few weeks dealing with a quadriceps injury, which kept him out of Friday’s game and a series of future practices. Jerome Ford returned the first kickoff, but didn’t play much.

That created an opportunity for undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr., who took full advantage. The former Texas-San Antonio back took full advantage, with 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He’s an explosive playmaker who quickly became a fan camp crush and is someone we need to see more of in the preseason. Can he protect the passer? Can he contribute well on special teams. The Commanders need all of that from a fourth running back. While McNichols is out a little while, he’s also a proven commodity. That will keep him firmly in the mix despite his injury.  

Center  

Nick Allegretti is set to return to practice on Tuesday. That’s a positive development for a position that has been without its starter since the first camp practice.  

Top reserve Julian Good-Jones has struggled some in camp, and there’s some video of him getting beat during Friday night’s game.  

Our Mark Tyler also found evidence of Matt Gulbin playing well at center as a pass protector and a quality blocker in the second level. Quinn praised Gulbin’s performance during a Sunday press conference, and also said he’ll get some reps at guard to round out his versatility as a 2026 depth piece.  

Allegretti’s still your starter at center. His direct backup seems up in the air at this point, with Gulbin’s performance making it possible he could end up in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.  

Safety 

Quan Martin had a solid game on Friday, parterning with Will Harris at the safety spot early in Friday’s game. He played a bit more than expected for someone who has played prominently over the past two seasons, but he’s locked in a position battle with veteran Jeremy Reaves.  

Quinn intimated that Reaves and three-down starter Nick Cross could be featured in a Week 2 preseason game at Detroit, allowing the staff to compare and contrast their options at safety.  

Martin looked good on Friday, but he’ll have to maintain that level of play to fight off Reaves. Martin was often a liability last season — he had a 155 passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025 — and the Commanders need better from the safety position overall in 2026. Cross will provide that, but he needs a running mate that’s solid in coverage and playing deep. Martin’s game play was decent. Let’s see how Reaves responds when he’s given game reps.  

Quarterback 

Marcus Mariota suffered a right MCL sprain early in Friday’s game, leaving most of the work to Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis. Expect that trend to continue, with Mariota set to miss the entire preseason and Quinn stating the Commanders don’t anticiapte adding another quarterback.  

Jayden Daniels is the unquestioned starter and Mariota is his backup, but the Commanders will keep one developmental third quarterback. Which guy will win that spot? Kaliakmanis showed better on Friday, showcasing solid arm talent. Hartman was inefficient and had some big misses and an interception that showed lackluster decision making.  

Both quarterbacks must be better to take the lead in the race for QB3. The receivers need them on point as well, as they try to stand out and make the plays required to earn a roster spot. It will be interesting to see which quarterback takes second-team reps with Mariota out. That will be our first clue in who has the lead coming out of Friday. Based on that game, it should be Kaliakmanis.  

Wide Receiver 

Stefon Diggs complicated the receiver depth chart in the best possible way, adding proven, dynamic production to the No. 2 receiver spot. The Commanders have options with how to complete the group and the roles within it.

Rookie Antonio Williams is expected to be the third option prominently featured in the slot, but it was mildly notable that he didn’t enter Friday’s game until the third quarter, well after others got their shot.  

Jaylin Lane caught some key passes. Treylon Burks was involved. Dyami Brown is sitting right there, and we haven’t even mentioned Luke McCaffrey yet. I just can’t see the Commanders keeping seven receivers, even with two of them as prominent returners and special teams players. Then there’s undrafted receiver Jaden Bradley.  

We need more time for these receivers to create separation and see which guy is performing in what role. Receivers made some nice plays, but it’s hard to say the first preseason game settled any arguments.