Commanders running backs Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. combined for 160 rushing yards and the team’s defense stifled the Dolphins en route to a 20-7 win in the first of three preseason games.
The two teams met earlier this week for a joint practice in Ashburn. While Washington outplayed Miami during that session, Friday’s game was a different kind of matchup as both teams leaned heavily on their reserves — Washington held 29 players out of the contest.
Here are five takeaways from the night:
Ricky Barber and Byron Cowart can play.
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Baber, an undrafted free agent from 2025, and Cowart, a 30-year-old journeyman, best illustrated what the preseason is about: showcasing the less familiar players on the roster. Both defensive linemen put constant pressure on Miami’s quarterbacks. Barber tied for a team-high five tackles and added a sack and two quarterback hits, consistently putting his 295-pound frame in the Dolphins’ way.
Cowart, signed as a free agent on Tuesday, started off rough, whiffing on a sack of Quinn Ewers in the first quarter while committing a horsecollar penalty on the same play. But he came alive in the fourth quarter, causing pressure on the plays that caused quarterback Cam Miller to throw interceptions to linebacker Ale Kaho and safety Malik Spencer.
“Thats our motto: Attack the ball, get the ball,” Cowart said. “So to contribute to what we stand for here as a defense, what more can I do?”
The running back room just got interesting.
Bill Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White are virtual locks to make the final roster. Jeremy McNichols, who has missed practice recently with a quad injury, has been with the team the past two seasons and is lauded for his pass protection.
Allen, selected in the sixth round of April’s draft, has typically spelled Croskey-Merritt and White in practice, but on Friday it was Henry, an undrafted rookie, who stole the show.
The University of Texas at San Antonio product showed elusiveness and the ability to change direction quickly on his way to 75 yards on just 12 carries. On Washington’s second possession of the second quarter, Henry took a handoff to the right before cutting back to the left for 15 yards. Two plays later he took another hand off to the right for a 22-yard touchdown run. Allen ended the day with 10 more yards than Henry, but it took nine more carries.
“The way I move, for sure,” Henry said when asked what he showed tonight. “I feel like I’m going to be able to express that more throughout the season but definitely the way I move. I feel like I’m twitchy, I got speed.”
Athan Kaliakmanis for QB3?
Sam Hartman has served as the Commanders’ third-string quarterback for the past two seasons, but he could be pushed for that spot this year. Kaliakmanis, drafted in the seventh round out of Rutgers, looked good in his first professional game. The stats won’t show it (6 of 10 for 87 yards and no touchdowns), but Kaliakmanis came in halfway through the third quarter and completed his first two passes of the day: a 16-yard out route to fellow rookie Antonio Williams and an 18-yard completion to tight end Colson Yankoff. On the same drive, Kaliakmanis threaded the needle between three defenders to find receiver Jacoby Jones, but Jones dropped the pass.
“I thought you’d see his arm strength come out a little bit, and it did, on some of the playaction plays,” coach Dan Quinn said of Kaliakmanis.
Hartman, who entered the game earlier than expected due to an injury to Marcus Mariota, was mostly inaccurate and had Washington’s lone interception after overthrowing Dyami Brown. But he did lead both of Washington’s touchdown drives.
The offensive line has growing pains.
It’s hard to grade the offensive line’s performance Friday because the unit was missing left tackle Laremy Tunsil and center Nick Allegretti (injuries) and right guard Sam Cosmi and right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. (held out). That being said, the line did OK against Miami. It started off shaky, putting Mariota under pressure and not giving Allen much room to run. Guard Chris Paul let his defender slip through on a first quarter run and Allen was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Later, tackle Andrew Wylie gave up a sack on a third down (Washington quarterbacks were sacked three times on the night). But as the game got going, the running backs found more space and the quarterbacks had the time to make some downfield throws.
Antonio Hamilton Sr. had a day.
Hamilton epitomizes the “next play” mentality in football. The 11-year veteran defensive back had a tough start, giving up a one-handed catch to Miami rookie Caleb Douglas and committing pass interference in the process. But Hamilton shook that off and proceeded to have one of the more productive days on the defense: five tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. He also played on special teams, laying the hammer down on Dolphins return man Jalen Reagor in the second quarter.
“That’s going to happen,” Hamilton said of the Douglas catch. “You’re going to give up a catch every now and then. They get paid, too. It’s just a next-play mentality as a DB.”
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