Story by
Three Commanders Under the Preseason Microscope vs. Detroit
- Story by
- Three Commanders Under the Preseason Microscope vs. Detroit
(Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
While the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Miami Dolphins in their 20-7 preseason victory last Friday, a few players could be under the microscope this weekend against the Detroit Lions .
Quarterback Sam Hartman , wide receiver Van Jefferson and, perhaps surprisingly, defensive tackle Johnny Newton all have something to prove. Can they change the narrative surrounding their value to the team, or could they be staring at a potential roster cut?
Advertisement
Time will tell, but the odds may not be in their favor. Hartman did little to improve his standing against Miami, while Newton failed to make an impact. Jefferson, meanwhile, did not have a particularly bad game, but he could find himself on the outside looking in given the depth of Washington's wide receiver room.
Diving into each player with something to prove:
QB Sam Hartman
After a disappointing performance against the Dolphins, in which he threw one interception and finished with just 80 passing yards, former 2024 undrafted quarterback Sam Hartman must step up against Lions. He is listed as QB3 on the Commanders' unofficial depth chart, but rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis could soon challenge him for the job after an efficient perforce against Miami. "The Greek Rifle" completed 60 percent of his passes, including completions of 16 and 17 yards.
Advertisement
Last year's preseason did little to help Hartman's case, either. He failed to throw a touchdown while tossing four interceptions.
If Hartman struggles again against Detroit, Kaliakmanis could find himself taking over the QB3 spot. It's still too early to know exactly what their former Rutgers quarterback can bring to the table, but it can't get much worse than Hartman. The former Notre Dame quarterback has yet to do enough to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster.
WR Van Jefferson
Super Bowl champion wide receiver Van Jefferson has looked solid in camp and even had a nice catch for 14 yards against the Dolphins. The issue is the depth at wide receiver, which is a good problem for Washington to have, but not for players like Jefferson who could find themselves on the outside looking in.
Advertisement
The Commanders kept just five wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster after the 2025 preseason. Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs are obvious locks, while third-round pick Antonio Williams figures to have a spot as well. Then there are Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane , both of whom can provide value on special teams. That's already five receivers.
Washington also has Dyami Brown , who has already built a strong connection with Jayden Daniels , particularly during the team's 2024 playoff run. Then there's Treylon Burks , who is listed behind Diggs on the unofficial depth chart. When healthy, the former first round pick has shown he still has plenty of talent, most notably with his one-handed touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football last season.
Add Brown and Burks to the mix, and that's seven receivers. The Commanders likely won't enter the season carrying eight at the position, which could leave Jefferson without a spot on the 53-man roster. If the six-year NFL veteran wants to earn a spot on the roster, he'll need to make the most of his opportunities against the Lions, and do a whole more than just make one catch for 14 yards.
DT Johnny Newton
Defensive tackle Johnny Newton's development has been a major disappointment for Washington. The former 2024 second-round pick was largely nowhere to be found against Miami, finishing with just two total tackles, neither of which was a solo tackle, and recording no sacks or tackles for loss.
Advertisement
Something else worth noting is that the Commanders have brought in several players over the past two seasons to upgrade its defensive line, including Javon Kinlaw , Dorance Armstrong , Charles Omenihu , and Tim Settle . All four sat out against the Dolphins. The fact Newton was playing alongside Miami's second-string unit rather than resting with Washington's starters could be telling about where he currently stands. Head coach Dan Quinn previously praised Shy Tuttle ahead of the preseason while Ricky Barber stuck out following the preseason opener.
With others emerging along the interior defensive line, Newton has plenty to prove to the Commanders' coaching staff. If he continues to struggle, his future with the team could become increasingly uncertain, a disappointing development for a player selected as high as he was in the 2024 NFL Draft.
