Commanders Run Past Dolphins 20-7 in Preseason Opener as Young Players Make Early Statements

The Washington Commanders opened the 2026 preseason with a 20-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Friday night at Northwest Stadium, using a strong rushing attack and three interceptions to take control after a difficult opening quarter.

Washington rested 26 players, including starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and many of its established starters. Miami took a different approach early, allowing several starters to play the opening possession. That difference showed immediately when the Dolphins marched 93 yards on 14 plays for the game’s first touchdown.

After that drive, Washington dominated most of the night.

The Commanders scored 20 unanswered points, rushed for 174 yards and forced three interceptions while improving to 1-0 in the preseason.

Miami Strikes First

New Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis looked sharp in his first action with Miami.

Willis completed 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards and added nine rushing yards during his only possession. Miami went 93 yards in 14 plays before De’Von Achane finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Achane carried seven times for 39 yards on the possession.

Willis’ biggest completion came on a 28-yard pass to rookie Caleb Douglas, who made a one-handed catch over Washington cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr.

Miami led 7-0 after the first quarter.

It would not score again.

Mariota Injury Creates Early Concern

The biggest negative of the night for Washington came almost immediately.

Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota started with Daniels sitting out, but Mariota lasted only four offensive plays before suffering a non-contact leg injury while handing the ball to rookie running back Kaytron Allen.

Mariota fell to the ground and was evaluated by Washington’s medical staff before eventually walking off under his own power. He entered the medical tent and later headed to the locker room. Head coach Dan Quinn did not have an immediate postgame update and said the team would evaluate its injured players Saturday.

One play before the injury, Mariota completed a 22-yard pass to Dyami Brown while taking a hit from linebacker Tyrel Dodson.

Mariota’s status will be one of Washington’s biggest storylines coming out of the opener. With Daniels entrenched as the starter, the Commanders need stability behind him, and Mariota entered camp as the veteran No. 2.

Hartman Settles Down After Shaky Start

Sam Hartman replaced Mariota and initially struggled.

Washington punted after moving 27 yards on Hartman’s first extended possession, and Hartman later threw an interception at the Miami 3-yard line late in the opening quarter.

He improved considerably from there.

Hartman completed a pass to Van Jefferson that helped move Washington into scoring position and later completed all three of his passes on a seven-play touchdown drive. On another scoring possession, Hartman scrambled for a first down on third-and-4 before finding Jaylin Lane for gains of eight and 17 yards.

Hartman finished 8-of-15 passing for 80 yards with one interception.

It was not an overwhelming performance, but Hartman responded well after the turnover and helped settle an offense that had looked disjointed during the first quarter.

Henry Makes His Case

One of the best stories of Washington’s opener was undrafted rookie running back Robert Henry Jr.

Henry rushed for 75 yards on 12 carries and scored on a 22-yard run, showing the burst that made him productive at UTSA.

On the touchdown, Henry followed a block from rookie offensive lineman Matt Gulbin before accelerating down the sideline and outrunning the Miami defense.

Washington entered the preseason with competition at the back end of its running back room, and Henry gave the coaching staff something significant to consider.

He was not alone.

Kaytron Allen Answers

Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen also made a strong first impression.

Allen led Washington with 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Washington’s young backs complemented one another well. Henry supplied more explosive runs, while Allen repeatedly kept the offense moving and avoided costly negative plays.

Allen scored from close range after Hartman’s 17-yard completion to Lane moved Washington to the Miami 4-yard line.

Together, Allen and Henry rushed for 160 yards and both found the end zone.

For a preseason game, that is exactly the type of competition Washington wants to see.

Defense Takes Over After Opening Drive

Washington’s defense deserves plenty of credit for how it responded after Miami’s initial touchdown.

The Dolphins scored seven points on their first possession and zero over the remainder of the night. Washington forced a turnover on downs on Miami’s next series, then generated multiple three-and-outs once the Dolphins turned to their backup quarterbacks.

The Commanders also forced three interceptions.

Quan Martin intercepted Quinn Ewers in the second quarter, giving Washington possession at the Miami 35-yard line. Jake Moody converted a 29-yard field goal off the turnover, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

Ale Kaho later intercepted Cam Miller and returned possession to the offense at the Miami 33. Drew Stevens turned that takeaway into a 44-yard field goal.

Malik Spencer added Washington’s third interception with fewer than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, essentially ending Miami’s comeback hopes.

For a Commanders defense emphasizing takeaways throughout training camp, three interceptions represented one of the most encouraging aspects of the night.

Washington Controls the Second Quarter

After falling behind 7-0, Washington scored 17 points during the second quarter.

Moody’s field goal got the Commanders on the board before Henry and Allen each found the end zone. By halftime, Washington had transformed a seven-point deficit into a 17-7 advantage. ESPN’s scoring summary showed Miami scoreless over the final three quarters, while Washington added three more points in the fourth for the 20-7 final.

The Commanders finished with 21 first downs and converted 47 percent of their third-down opportunities.

Washington’s offense was far from polished, but with so many established players unavailable, the production from the younger group was encouraging.

Kicker Competition Continues

Washington’s kicker battle also continued Friday.

Jake Moody converted from 29 yards, although the kick hit the right upright before going through. Drew Stevens later connected from 44 yards.

With roster spots on the line throughout the preseason, every opportunity matters, and neither kicker separated himself dramatically in the opener.

Stevens’ longer conversion was certainly valuable, while Moody still got his attempt through despite the contact with the upright.

MSB Take

Preseason results do not mean much by themselves, but Washington got several things it wanted out of this game.

The Commanders rested most of the players who will determine how successful the 2026 season becomes, including Daniels, and still controlled the final three quarters.

More importantly, young players made legitimate cases for roster spots.

Henry may have helped himself as much as anyone on the field. His acceleration on the 22-yard touchdown was noticeable, and 75 yards on 12 carries is difficult to ignore.

Allen also looked like a player capable of handling NFL preseason volume. He carried 23 times, gained 85 yards and scored without needing one massive run to inflate the total.

Defensively, three interceptions were perhaps the most encouraging development. Washington has stressed creating turnovers during camp, and Martin, Kaho and Spencer turned that emphasis into production during the first preseason game.

The concern is Mariota.

Washington can afford to keep Daniels out of meaningless preseason snaps, but the Commanders need a reliable veteran behind him once the games count. Mariota walking off under his own power was encouraging, but his status bears watching.

Outside of that injury, Washington accomplished plenty Friday.

The young running backs ran hard. The defense generated turnovers. The offense recovered from a rough opening quarter. And a roster consisting largely of backups and bubble players beat a Miami team that used many of its starters early.

That is a productive preseason opener.

Final: Washington Commanders 20, Miami Dolphins 7

Up Next

Washington travels to face the Detroit Lions on Aug. 22 for its second preseason game. Miami returns home to face the New York Giants the same day.