The Washington Commanders kicked off their 2026 preseason campaign on Friday night with a 20-7 win over the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium. The game marked a successful week for the franchise, which also held a joint practice with Miami on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the BigBear.ai Performance Center in Ashburn – the first joint session at the facility.
Coaching Emphasis on Development
Head coach Dan Quinn praised the opportunity to see the team’s rookies in action. “First thing I thought was it was good to see the rookies. I really enjoy the preseason,” Quinn said. He highlighted the extra practice time the young players receive, noting that they often arrive early, stay late, and run additional walkthroughs to earn their chance to compete.
Veterans Rested, Rookies Shine
After most of Washington’s starters participated in the joint practice, Quinn rested 26 players for the opener, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, defensive end Odafe Oweh, and several other key contributors. The decision opened the field for several first‑year players, including Sonny Styles, Antonio Williams, Athan Kaliakmanis and Drew Stevens, who each made their NFL debuts.
Kaliakmanis described his experience: “It was incredible. I wasn’t really thinking about my first completion… it was a blessing to walk out there, see all the Commanders fans, and see that field. It’s amazing, it’s beautiful. I’m just appreciative of every one of the guys in here.”
Key Moments and Injuries
Quarterback Marcus Mariota started the game for Washington but left after the fourth play of the opening drive due to a leg injury sustained in a hard hit by Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson. Sam Hartman and Kaliakmanis each took snaps in Mariota’s stead.
The Commanders secured the win with touchdowns from running backs Robert Henry Jr. and Kaytron Allen. The defense also played a pivotal role, with contributions from defensive line, safety Quan Martin, cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., safety Malik Spencer and linebacker Ale Kaho. Martin said, “It’s definitely always a phase to get better at, especially while we’re in preseason… I definitely think we can improve and keep stacking it and getting better.”
Family Ties on the Field
The game featured a rare moment as brothers Chris Paul of the Commanders and Patrick Paul of the Dolphins shared the field, underscoring the familial connections that often run through the league.
Looking Ahead
Following the victory, the Commanders will travel to Detroit for their Week 2 preseason matchup against the Lions on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Ford Field. The game is scheduled to begin at noon EST.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
