The Washington Commanders look to put a difficult joint practice behind them when they face the Baltimore Ravens on Friday in the preseason finale.
It’s unlikely we’ll see Washington’s starters, despite how much the first-team offense struggled against the Ravens on Wednesday. The Commanders were without three of their starting offensive linemen in Wednesday’s joint practice. Instead of using the primary backups at those spots, head coach Dan Quinn chose to give younger players live reps against a quality front. It didn’t go well, but it remains to be seen whether those reps prove valuable later.
Washington has until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET to trim its roster from 90 to 53 players. That work began early, when the Commanders cut ties with former
starting safety Will Harris. With most of the starting positions locked up, which players look to get off the roster bubble with strong performances in Friday’s preseason finale?
Here are six players to watch on Friday.
QB Athan Kaliakmanis
The rookie seventh-round pick has had a tremendous preseason. He’s completed 17 of 24 passes (70.8%) for 248 yards. Kaliakmanis has looked comfortable in the pocket, even with pressure. Unlike most rookies playing for the first time in the preseason, Kaliakmanis hasn’t played it safe. He comes in firing, taking deep shots. The question isn't whether Washington wants to keep Kaliakmanis around, but whether GM Adam Peters wants to take the chance of waiving him and re-signing him to the practice squad. There’s a good chance that Kaliakmanis could make it through waivers, but it only takes one team. Do the Commanders want to take that chance?
RB Robert Henry Jr.
The undrafted rookie from UTSA was phenomenal in the preseason opener, rushing for 75 yards and a touchdown. He showed explosiveness and great vision. However, Henry came crashing back down to earth last week against the Lions with four carries for -3 yards. He also fumbled a kickoff return. That was a double whammy for Henry. The Commanders will certainly want to keep him on the practice squad, but there’s still a chance he could make a push for the 53. He needs a strong performance against Baltimore on offense and special teams.
WR Jaden Bradley
Bradly is another impressive undrafted rookie. In any other year, Bradley would have probably already cemented a roster spot. However, wide receiver is a deep position this year. There will be one or two really hard cuts for Peters. The 6-foot-4 Bradley has done everything right. He’s excelled during practice and has been attached to Terry McLaurin’s hip since OTAs. He also took pride in playing on special teams, almost blocking multiple punts in the preseason opener vs. Miami. It’s still probably not enough to earn a roster spot, but you can bet retaining Bradley on the practice squad will be a huge priority for Peters.
C Matt Gulbin
Like Henry, Gulbin got off to a strong start in the preseason opener. Head coach Dan Quinn was impressed and said he wanted to see the sixth-round rookie get more work at guard. He did in last week’s loss at Detroit, but he struggled. This week, he was back to working more at center with Jayden Daniels. He had his share of struggles against the Ravens. It’s fair for a rookie offensive lineman to struggle. There are many adjustments to make, going from the college game to the NFL. What Washington wants to see is progress. The Commanders need to see whether Gulbin can be counted on during a game if someone goes down. Every rep matters.
LB Ale Kaho
Ale Kaho is another player who deserves a spot on the 53-man roster. A 2025 undrafted free agent, Kaho won a spot last summer. This year, like Bradley, Kaho is a victim of Washington’s linebacker upgrades. The Commanders brought in Sonny Styles and Leo Chenal, who, along with Frankie Luvu, are the top three linebackers. Jordan Magee is No. 4. Depending on whether the Commanders keep five or six linebackers — maybe even four — Kaho is fighting for a spot with former UCLA teammate Kain Medrano. Washington likes both players. Medrano is an excellent athlete, but raw as a linebacker. Kaho is good on special teams and a quality backup linebacker. It seems doubtful that the Commanders can keep both due to other needs. Kaho is a quality player, but Medrano offers more upside.
CB Antonio Hamilton Sr.
Hamilton is a bit different from everyone else on this list. He’s a 33-year-old veteran journeyman. But he plays with the passion of an undrafted rookie. He gives it all on special teams and plays hard on defense. With Trey Amos still sidelined, Washington will certainly keep five corners. It’s doubtful that it can keep six. If it keeps five, Hamilton is battling veteran Fabian Moreau. Moreau probably offers you more on defense, which matters in this case, while Hamilton can help you more on special teams.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 6 Commanders with the most to prove vs. Ravens in preseason finale
