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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels didn’t play in the preseason finale, having nothing left to prove after being named the Week 1 starter following last week’s game. Daniels’ preseason has been wildly exciting and has created genuine hope among Commanders fans that the team can quickly return to contention. However, he still has much to learn, including the need to protect himself better on running plays. Marcus Mariota is the No. 2 despite missing time with a groin injury. The remaining question is whether the team will keep veteran Jeff Driskel or focus on long-term upside with rookie Sam Hartman.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler didn’t play in the finale. The duo will command the vast majority of regular-season snaps, health permitting. Conventional wisdom has Ekeler as the receiving back while Robinson handles the early-down workload. However, both are versatile enough to contribute on any down and distance, and it would benefit the offense if coordinator Kliff Kingsbury avoids making their usage too predictable. The competition for the No. 3 role has been spirited, with all three contenders—Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jeremy McNichols, and Michael Wiley—continuing to make worthy claims. Both ESPN and The Washington Post project McNichols as the winner, with Kazmeir Allen also making the roster as a return specialist.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
We’ve been chronicling Jahan Dotson’s waning support, with Coach Quinn openly stating last week that they were still searching for a No. 2 receiver. The concerns turned out to be legitimate, as the team opted to trade Dotson within the division for a third-round pick in 2025 (and a swap of other picks). Unless there’s another domino to fall, this likely puts Dyami Brown into the outside receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin, with Olamide Zaccheaus as the primary slot option. Brown has a sub-50% career catch rate and seems misplaced in a higher-volume role, while Zaccheaus has received considerable praise from the coaches all summer and has the versatility to play inside or outside. Rookie Luke McCaffrey has been buried on the depth chart all summer but was curiously kept out of the preseason finale, along with most of the presumptive starters. There’s a chance the coaches have been playing coy with the unofficial depth chart, and Dotson’s trade might push McCaffrey into an accelerated role for regular snaps.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, John Bates, and Ben Sinnott were inactive for the finale, confirming what we already knew about their respective roles. It’s hard to believe Ertz will be counted on as a starter in 2024, but that’s the reality. Sinnott has flashed often enough to credibly slot in as Ertz’s successor sooner rather than later. Bates is a steady hand and the unit’s best blocker.
Preseason Updates: Kickers
The Commanders clarified their kicker situation by releasing Riley Patterson and trading a conditional seventh-round pick to Cleveland for Cade York. York is the third kicker they've rostered since releasing Brandon McManus, who was involved in a sexual assault lawsuit from his time with the Jaguars. In his Washington preseason debut, York went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points, solidifying his role as the Week 1 kicker against Tampa Bay.
Preseason Updates: Defense
John Keim (ESPN), Nicki Jhabvala, and Sam Fortier (The Washington Post) project five defensive ends making the roster: Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, K.J. Henry, Jamin Davis, and Javonte Jean-Baptiste. They also agree on the defensive tackle quartet of Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Jer’Zhan Newton, and John Ridgeway III. Linebackers Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Dominique Hampton, and Jordan Magee are the consensus picks, although Magee could start the season on injured reserve. Rookie Mike Sainristil has already become the most reliable cornerback, which is both good and bad news. Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste will start on the outside but need to play better. At safety, the real mystery is whether the Commanders will keep six, and if not, whether Jeremy Reaves or Darrick Forrest will be the one getting cut.
Preseason Updates: Returners
The team is in good hands with Jamison Crowder on punt returns but lacks any experienced, established options for fielding kickoffs. Noah Igbinoghene was the starter on the first depth chart, but he has four career kickoff returns, none since 2020. Don’t be surprised if the team brings another name to compete for the job after league-wide roster cuts.
Updates from Week 3
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
There’s palpable excitement about Jayden Daniels, and his second preseason game added more helium to the hype. He completed 10-of-12 passes for 78 yards and ran for 13 yards in just two offensive drives against the Dolphins. It’s clear he’s got a good handle on Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and is going to be a highlight-reel immediately, but underneath the strong box score was questionable decision-making that could’ve easily led to an injury. Daniels ran directly into a gaggle of Dolphins’ defenders on a play rather than sliding, leading head coach Dan Quinn to put him on “double-secret probation.” One of the principal risks facing Daniels is a tendency to put his body at risk with his scrambling, and this moment serves as a reminder that his talents will only flourish if he can stay on the field. Daniels acknowledged that it’s a “constant battle” and there’s a “fine line between knowing when to take chances and when to get down.”
Commanders fans sincerely hope the backup quarterbacks are irrelevant to the 2024 season, but history tells us that most teams need their backups at some point in a season. Marcus Mariota is the No. 2, although he’s not been without his travails learning Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. The Athletic’s Jon Machota believes Mariota’s struggles may warrant keeping Jeff Driskel on the roster, too, which would leave rookie Sam Hartman on the practice squad. Mariota and Hartman missed the Dolphins game, leading to recently signed Trace McSorley playing in the second half after Driskel’s night was over.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Brian Robinson Jr and Austin Ekeler split reps with the starters again, all but confirming that, health permitting, we’ll see a relatively even split between them in the regular season. Notably, coaches played Robinson for the first 11 snaps and then Ekeler for the final seven, compared to last week, when they rotated in and out. The team may be experimenting with the optimal rotation pace to maximize their efficiency. Most expected Chris Rodriguez Jr. to have the No. 3 job without much fanfare, but his summer struggles have changed the narrative. Journeyman Jeremy McNichols, Michael Wiley, and Austin Jones have flashed, but both rookies are easily kept on the practice squad, so the battle in the coming weeks likely comes down to Rodriguez rebounding versus the steady but uninspiring McNichols. Note that McNichols was the next back into the game after the starters sat, followed by Wiley. Rodriguez didn’t get into the game until the second half.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Terry McLaurin played all 18 snaps with Jayden Daniels and is the one sure thing among the position group. He’ll be the leading target, assuredly, if healthy. Last week, we discussed Jahan Dotson playing the slot and staying in the game far longer than the other ‘starters.’ Commanders camp observers spun his usage differently, with optimists seeing it as compelling given how much coordinator Kingsbury values the slot position. At the same time, pessimists wondered why he would’ve been kept on the field with the clear backups for a chunk of the game. Unfortunately, we got further evidence that the pessimists saw things clearly when Coach Quinn said they were still “in the middle of” searching for a No. 2 receiver and called attention to journeyman Olamide Zaccheaus. The usage against the Dolphins didn’t help solve the riddle. The good news for Dotson is that he played 16 of the 18 snaps with Daniels, including all 3-WR formations. He also played on three of the five 2-WR sets with the starters (alongside McLaurin), suggesting that despite the rhetoric, he could still be in line for the No. 2 role and move outside in two-receiver alignments. Despite the rhetoric, Zaccheaus only played seven of 18 snaps with the starters and ran just four routes. He was outsnapped by Dyami Brown, who played nine snaps and ran seven routes. Rookie Luke McCaffrey played late into the fourth quarter; he’s buried on the depth chart for now.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Zach Ertz missed practices and the Dolphins game, but it wasn’t because of injury; his wife gave birth to their son, Madden, a week ago. Rookie Ben Sinnott started in Ertz’s stead but only played three snaps, while John Bates played all 18 with the starters. Sinnott’s big-play highlights this summer portend big things in the future, but it looks like the coaches don’t feel comfortable putting him on the field much to begin his career.
Preseason Updates: Kickers
The Week 1 kicker is almost certainly not on the roster after Riley Patterson went 2 of 4 on field goal attempts, including misses from 43 and 49 yards. Patterson missed his first two kicks on the night, including one lousy miss, but head coach Dan Quinn reassured him on the sideline after the misses, and Patterson made his final two kicks. The damage has still been done, and the Commanders should almost certainly get their pick of the kickers released at final cutdowns with the second waiver priority after the Panthers, who are satisfied with Eddy Pineiro.
Preseason Updates: Defense
With the premier defensive linemen sitting out, linebacker Frankie Luvu and rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil generated the most buzz this weekend. Luvu notched the Commanders' first four tackles against the Dolphins' first-team offense, and Sainristil picked up from there, including a stop on Raheem Mostert for no gain as he provided support in the run defense. In joint practices earlier in the week, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen dominated Tua Tagovailoa and Miami starters.
Preseason Updates: Offensive Lines
Right guard Sam Cosmi is coming to the end of his rookie contract and could attract heavy attention from free agency. Cosmi has tackle versatility and is motivated to build on last year's performance. New additions left guard Nick Allegretti (Kansas City) and center Tyler Biadasz should significantly improve the group. Theoretically, every lineman should have an easier time in Kliff Kingsbury's RPO scheme. The team has high hopes for rookie left tackle Brandon Coleman (Round 3 – TCU), but Coleman injured his shoulder and is week-to-week. Cornelius Lucas will start until the rookie can recover. The Commanders' line ranks 30th overall.
Updates from Week 2
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels made his NFL debut in the preseason game against the Jets and performed much better than in earlier joint practices. He and the other starters played the opening drive, with Daniels successfully marching the offense down the field and scoring a 3-yard touchdown run before calling it a day. The most interesting part of Daniels’ day was an unplanned audible on a third down that led to Dyami Brown’s 42-yard completion. Head coach Dan Quinn had mixed feelings about Daniels’ audible: “It’s an interesting question, checking into a long pass on third down. I thought of ‘Top Gun.’ Do I have permission to buzz the tower? No. Ghost Rider, the pattern is full. I think on that one, Jayden wanted to ask for forgiveness, not permission—and then threw an absolute dime over the top to Dyami.” Marcus Mariota came in after Daniels, followed by Jeff Driskel and rookie Sam Hartman. Hartman has work to do if he wants to secure the team’s No. 3 spot, but he’s likely heading to the practice squad either way.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
Since Austin Ekeler signed with the Commanders, it’s been clear that a committee approach led by Ekeler and Brian Robinson would be the norm. The preseason opener confirmed this expectation, with Robinson (6 snaps) and Ekeler (5 snaps) rotating with the starters. Robinson ran the ball five times compared to Ekeler’s two carries. The intriguing battle is for the No. 3 spot. Incumbent Chris Rodriguez Jr. was listed as Robinson’s backup on the unofficial depth chart, with undrafted free agent Michael Wiley next. However, Wiley looked like a playmaker against the Jets, leading the team with 34 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Rodriguez failed to gain a yard on six carries.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Preseason depth charts aren’t always indicative of how the 53-man roster and Week 1 roles will shape up, but they do offer valuable insights. Veteran Olamide Zaccheaus was listed as a starter alongside Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. The buzz has surrounded rookie Luke McCaffrey, but he’s listed behind Zaccheaus, signaling that he’ll need to continue impressing to have early-season relevance. However, Zaccheaus played only three of the 11 snaps with the starters, while incumbent Dyami Brown played four and caught a 42-yard strike from Daniels. Notably, Dotson played in the slot during the opening drive while Brown and Zaccheaus lined up outside opposite McLaurin. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has always favored the slot position, so Dotson’s move inside could be highly beneficial. McLaurin had a quiet preseason debut but has been vocal all summer about Jayden Daniels’ ability to elevate his performance. "Definitely trying not to put the cart before the horse," McLaurin said. "But he's come in and been so prepared. I've played with a lot of first-time quarterbacks, and he plays like this is not his first time in the league. The receiver position is very dependent on the connection with the quarterback, and having that continuity is crucial. You want that longevity to build that connection so you're not starting from Day 1 every time, but I've learned to adapt."
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Zach Ertz was listed as the starter on the team’s initial depth chart, which isn’t surprising given his performance in the first two weeks of camp. However, it’s notable that rookie Ben Sinnott is slotted at No. 3 behind veteran John Bates. Bates is a proven blocker and experienced but also often injured. Ertz was inactive for the preseason game, and Bates played all 11 snaps with the first-team offense. Sinnott didn’t see action until the backups were in, but he had the highlight play of the game—a dynamic 44-yard run where he plowed through multiple defenders. Sinnott poses a far greater threat with the ball in his hands than Bates would if Ertz were to get hurt.
Preseason Updates: Kickers
In the Commanders' kicker battle, Ramiz Ahmed made his extra point and a field goal from 40 yards, while Riley Patterson made his extra point but missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. Both kickers had a rough practice during the week leading up to the game, leading to speculation that Washington might need to look elsewhere for their kicker this season.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., last year’s first-round pick, struggled as a rookie and hasn’t done much this summer to improve his standing. Fortunately, the team isn’t relying on Forbes, as Michael Davis, Benjamin St-Juste, and rookie Mike Sainristil are expected to start. Head coach Dan Quinn, a defensive mastermind, is hopeful for a quick turnaround on defense. However, the Jets game wasn’t a good litmus test, as defensive stalwarts Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Bobby Wagner were given the night off. While it’s encouraging that the Jets were held to a 3-and-out on the opening drive, it’s important to remember that New York held out 24 of its 26 projected starters.
Preseason Updates: Returners
The Commanders are in good hands with Jamison Crowder on punt returns but lack an experienced, established option for fielding kickoffs. Noah Igbinoghene was listed as the starter on the first depth chart, but he has only four career kickoff returns, none since 2020. The team may bring in another name to compete for the job over the next three weeks.
Updates from Week 1
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's What You Need To Know From Every Team This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Rookie Jayden Daniels hasn’t officially been named the Week 1 starter, but it's expected. Veteran Marcus Mariota is also getting first-team reps, but Daniels has been taking the majority of them in recent practices. The team didn't use the second overall pick on Daniels to keep him on the bench for a journeyman who has struggled in recent seasons. Head coach Dan Quinn is pleased with Daniels' progress, saying, "It's the decision-making that I've been really impressed by, not just throwing but playing the position, 'this coverage goes to here, I got a matchup I want I go to here.' There's skill work and processing work. The processing part for him has been excellent."
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
While much of the focus is on OC Kliff Kingsbury developing Jayden Daniels, the running game also has questions. Incumbent Brian Robinson no longer has Antonio Gibson competing for touches, but he does have Austin Ekeler, a former offensive cornerstone for the Chargers. Robinson has embraced Ekeler as a teammate, saying, “Austin, he’s a pro’s pro. He shows up to work every day. He’s locked in, he’s focused, he tries to find every way to hold the guys around him accountable.” Robinson has also learned from Ekeler, particularly in the passing game. “I’ve been learning a few steps from him in the pass game, and he’s just been a real big help for me and what I want to do this season. And I expect us to have a great year together.”
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Terry McLaurin, the savvy veteran among Washington’s skill players, is excited about playing with Jayden Daniels. He praised Daniels' ability, saying, “He naturally has a good feel of where to position the ball, whether it's an in-breaking route, out-breaking route, a ball down the field.” McLaurin added, “I think I run the vertical route really well, and sometimes connecting on that can be challenging because each quarterback is different in the way they throw the trajectory or where the aiming point may be. But the more reps we get, it's just gonna make us better. The good thing about it is, he's extremely communicative, and I am too, so that really helps the relationship grow quicker.” Jahan Dotson, coming off a disappointing 2023, feels confident in Kliff Kingsbury’s system. He stated, “Yeah, a hundred percent. Feeling more comfortable, especially within the offense. Now that we've gone through OTAs, getting to learn the playbook and about a week in the camp, I feel like I'm just getting more comfortable, and that's enabling me to play faster and faster. I feel like I'm playing a lot faster than I have been in the past couple of years, and that's been a big emphasis for me."
When the Commanders selected Luke McCaffrey in the third round, many saw it as a long-term bet on his athleticism and football acumen. However, McCaffrey, who transitioned from quarterback at Rice University to receiver, is already pushing for the No. 3 role behind McLaurin and Dotson, surprising many camp observers.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
The Commanders are counting on veteran Zach Ertz despite his age and recent injury history. The Athletic’s Ben Standig believes Ertz is the team's best red zone target, noting, “Ertz, 33, isn’t the same player he was during his Pro Bowl era with the Philadelphia Eagles and has only played 17 games combined the past two seasons, largely due to injuries. However, he’s been sharp this offseason as a route runner. Daniels has found Ertz for touchdowns on multiple occasions. The obvious caveats about good health and ‘it’s only practice where the offense has advantages’ apply.” If Ertz can deliver as expected, it will give rookie Ben Sinnott more time to adjust to the NFL
Preseason Updates: Kickers
The Commanders claimed Riley Patterson off waivers after the Jaguars let him go, setting up a battle with Ramiz Ahmed. Ahmed has been on an NFL active roster but never attempted an extra point or field goal. Patterson has been the kicker for three different NFL teams, including Detroit twice, and has been a solid 59 for 67 (88.1%) on field goals and 93 for 97 (95.9%) on extra points, but his career-long field goal is only 53 yards. Both kickers went 5 for 5 in practice earlier in the week, but it was also reported that Ahmed has had a “shaky” camp. Ben Standig of The Athletic believes there is a “decent chance” that the Week 1 kicker is not on the roster.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Coach Quinn and his staff are working to improve a unit that ranked last in 2023, allowing 518 points. The overhaul includes seven new projected starters. Defensive ends Dorance Armstrong (Dallas) and Clelin Ferrell (Las Vegas) will join incumbents DaRon Payne and Jonathan Allen. Free-agent linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner are also expected to start. Veterans Jeremy Chinn and Michael Davis will join Benjamin St-Juste and Darrick Forrest in the secondary. Rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil is the favorite to play the nickel.
