Most Commanders you’ll see featured during the 2026 campaign won’t play Friday night’s preseason finale against Baltimore.
Head coach Dan Quinn made the crystal clear this week, saying frontline players would get heavy reps in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Ravens to cap their training camp.
That means the cast you see Friday at M&T Bank Stadium will feature those battling for spots near the bottom of the 53-man depth chart and the practice squad.
That doesn’t mean this upcoming game is without
merit, though you must look a little harder to find it. Most of the hay’s in the barn evaluation-wise, but finishing with a flourish may help some roster hopefuls secure a spot.
Notice how you don’t see quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis or defensive back Tyler Owens listed. I think those guys are already in.
There are a few players worth highlighting here that could improve their stock and standing by punctuating the preseason with a strong performance.
DL Ricky Barber
A first-year pro after spending most of last season on the practice squad, Ricky Barber has shown well during training camp. That’s also true of his preseason performances. While the Commanders vastly upgraded their defensive front, Johnny Newton’s torn pectoral muscle has created an opening for a young player like Barber.
He leads the team with 10 tackles and a sack over the first two preseason games, and was solid when elevated from the practice squad in 2025, especially on this play.
Barber surely has a practice-squad spot locked up, unless someone snags him off waivers, where he could provide insurance at the position. Barber could earn a spot should the Commanders keep six defensive linemen, though Byron Cowart’s angling for the same gig. A strong finish could help Barber in this instance, to highlight a strong body of preseason work.
DB Darius Rush
Credit where credit’s due: This one’s inspired by John Portis’ excellent roster case for Darius Rush, a supreme athlete and special teams maven who clearly cares about the kicking game. A team needs players like that, to champion the often thankless work done on the coverage and return units.
Showing a little something on defensive coverage in the preseason, even if it’s the tools to develop into a solid player in that area, will strengthen his case to be kept around in Washington. He might not make the 53-man roster, but he could well help this season as a practice squad elevation and continue to earn reps with hard work.
LB Ale Kaho
Ale Kaho has had a strong preseason, showing off the athleticism and special-teams prowess worthy of a reserve linebacker spot.
It seems like the Commanders like Kaho and have him under strong consideration should they keep a fifth linebacker as I think they will.
Fellow UCLA product Kain Medrano’s direct competition for that spot and he’s an Adam Peters draft pick with somewhat similar traits. It’s tough to say who has the upper hand at this point – probably Medrano – and this is the type of competition that could go to the bitter end even with most decisions already made. A final evaluation could further prove his worth, though it’s nearly impossible he won’t earn a practice squad spot at minimum.
WR Jaden Bradley
The undrafted rookie out of UNLV has been talked about a ton over the course of this Commanders preseason, with mostly positive sentiments from players, coaches and observers alike.
I mean, what’s not to love about a hard worker who makes plays like this?
His play would put him in line for a roster spot on this team, but that’s hard to imagine in an impacted position group. There are times, however, when teams take a flier on a young player with upside who plays special teams over a veteran with a defined ceiling.
Could more wow plays against the Ravens sway general manager Adam Peters to keep Bradley on the 53-man roster. Could Washington get him through waivers and onto the practice squad? Probably, but it’s a risk. Maybe he’s on the initial 53-man and gets moved a week or so later.
There’s so much worthy competition for the sixth receiver spot, but Bradley has a case he can keep on making Friday night.
OT D.J. Humphries
This player doesn’t fit the theme we’ve created for this post. Humphries is an established veteran, albeit towards the end of a standout career. He made it clear to on-site reporters following Wednesday’s joint practice that he’s not a savior at the left tackle spot. He’s here to provide depth behind Brandon Coleman.
This game will offer a sneak peek of what Humphries can do at this stage, with but a small amount of scheme knowledge under his belt. Keep an eye on his game reps – there might not be many – for an indication of where he’s at after spending most of camp away from an NFL team.
