BOX SCORE
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said a solid number of starters would play Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
He was a man of his word in that regard. The Commanders deemed just 15 players inactive, and most all of them were hurt. Running back Bill Croskey-Merritt was the only healthy scratch, an obvious move to take unnecessary hits on Washington’s primary ball carrier.
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Every other healthy player was available, even the team’s biggest stars. That included quarterback Jayden Daniels, plus receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.
They weren’t available long.
The Commanders had a quick for that trio and many others, preserving health on a team that has been battered by injuries over the past few weeks.
That left those lower on the depth chart to decide this one, which ended with a 17-13 loss to the Lions at Ford Field.
Let’s take a look at five takeaways from watching Washington’s second preseason game live:
The Commanders defense had an unfortunate start to the preseason opener versus Miami, with a 14-play drive that ended in a touchdown.
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This week was the complete opposite. The Commanders defense scored a touchdown of its own on Saturday’s opening drive. With a strip sack from blitzing slot cornerback Amik Robertson that edge rusher Joshia Josephs recovered in the end zone.
Robertson delivered a massive hit and Josephs earned six points with a great effort play.
That turnover wasn’t an isolated incident.
Quan Martin recorded his second preseason interception in as many games on the second defensive series. Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu flushed Lions quarterback Joshua Dobbs from the pocket – starter Jared Goff didn’t play in this one – and forced an errant throw Martin pick from the air.
The Commanders started this game well, with huge takeaways in the early going. Those are good signs for a defense that played without a few key starters in the defensive front seven.
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Jayden Daniels’ quick cameo
Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels played just one series against the Lions, and it was a quick one.
He threw an incomplete pass intended for running back Kaytron Allen on first down. He got sacked on second down after tight ends Chig Okonkwo and John Bates broke down in pass protection.
The play design worked, and there was a big play available had the protection held up on the playaction pass.
Daniels then handed the ball off on third-and-20, a concession of spells that eliminated the prospect of the quarterback getting hit and ultimately resulted in a punt.
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And that was it. For Daniels and receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.
While the Commanders surely wished that series would’ve extended with a few first downs and a score, that desire didn’t push Quinn to trot Daniels back out there.
The quarterback’s day was done. So, most assuredly, was his preseason play. Daniels will get plenty of reps in next week’s joint practice versus Baltimore before formally start prep for the regular season.
Pass rush stays hot
The Commanders played Saturday’s game without starting edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, top reserve Dorane Armstrong and interior defensive lineman Daron Payne, yet was able to apply pressure against the Lions early, a trend that carried throughout the game.
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The Commanders had five sacks in this contest, including three in one drive, and were regularly around the quarterback. Robertson, Maurice Hurst II – he had two — Javontae Jean-Baptiste and TJ Maguranyanga took the quarterback down
The game’s biggest hit, however, didn’t come on a sack. Tyler Owens delivered this blow and is an exclamation point on a solid preseason for the defensive back.
The pass rush kept the Lions off balance and provided an encouraging sign about the depth up front. The Commanders invested heavily in their pass rush on the first team and in terms of depth. Seeing so many get involved is a plus, considering a steady rotation is key to rushing the passer well during the regular season.
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Jaden Bradley shows out
Undrafted rookie receiver Jaden Bradley has received plenty of hype this spring and summer. The UNLV product has made some nice plays in camp and received praise from Quinn, McLaurin and others. Bradley had a relatively quiet preseason opener but made his presence known against the Lions.
He had two catches for 42 yards, including an absolute beauty in the second half, where he was essentially held but still found a way to make an unreal one-handed grab.
Receiver spots will be hard to come by on Washington’s 53-man roster, but Bradley would still be someone worth keeping on the practice squad at least.
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Athan Kaliakmanis surges in QB battle
Daniels barely played in this preseason game. Veteran reserve and surefire No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota was unavailable after suffering a right MCL sprain last week against the Dolphins.
That left the rest of this game to Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis, signal callers battling to be the team’s third quarterback. That job remains in the air, though the picture gets a little clearer with every passing game.
The quarterbacks went back and forth running series after Daniels was done. Both guys provided a high completion percentage, but Kaliakmanis proved the more explosive passer.
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He delivered the dime to Bradley you saw above. He also delivered this bomb to receiver Nick Nash.
The Commanders will carry this position battle forward another week, with a decision becoming clear with the quarterback who remains on the 53-man roster roughly this time next week.
