The Washington Commanders came up short in Saturday’s preseason game, falling 17-13 to the Detroit Lions. The game featured some good and bad for Washington. The Commanders’ defense sacked Detroit quarterbacks five times, forced two more turnovers and scored on a defensive touchdown.
There were bright spots on offense, too, including rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, along with rookie wideouts Jaden Bradley and Antonio Williams. But the biggest takeaway coming out of Saturday’s game was how quarterback Jayden Daniels played only three snaps. Diving deeper, it was how the Commanders couldn’t protect Daniels on their first two snaps.
There was some good and bad for Washington in Saturday’s loss. But much of the focus was on the bad. How did
Commanders fans and local media react to Saturday’s game? We took to X for some of the top reactions to Washington’s loss at Detroit.
- GOTTTAAAA get a new center!
— Ballin In Burgundy Podcast (@BIBPodcast22) August 22, 2026
- get some CB depth for sure!
- Bradley is gonna make a case to make the team
- Josephs is gonna be a PROBLEM!!#RaiseHail https://t.co/hToYqfFRJ7
Kaytron Allen's numbers weren't big today -- 10 carries for 30 yards. But those were tough yards; escaped issues in the backfield; good vision. And his blitz pickup on the deep pass to Jalen Bradley was textbook.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 22, 2026
Rapid Reaction:
— Denton Day (D-Day) (@TheDentonDay) August 22, 2026
- O-line NEEDS help 📉
- Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis both have strong days!
- The speed of the defense leaps off the screen ⚡️ #RaiseHail @team980 @1067theFan
Full recap⤵️ pic.twitter.com/iZTQ6fy4cf
AK16 got the Goods
— Rio Robinson (@Rio_Robinson91) August 22, 2026
Eradicate The Supermodel
AK QB2
— Fresh Donutz (@FreshDonutz) August 22, 2026
Washington has to add a Center before week’s end.
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) August 22, 2026
Julian Good-Jones getting another week of starting center reps is malpractice atp…
— Bleeding Burgundy & Gold (@BleedinBnG) August 22, 2026
Self-inflicted wound as well.
— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) August 22, 2026
I've been pro-Adam Peters, and still am, but DEMOTING Biadasz seemed more reasonable than an outright release 🤔.
There must be more to the story. Was Biadasz upset with the team? His role if benched? Just seems odd. https://t.co/8JFIIKYJwR
Three and out in one drive is exactly why the starters needed to play in week 1 of the preseason. Struggle in week 1, make adjustments for week 2 and figure out who can play and who cant. Now its a crapshoot waiting 3 weeks to figure things out in Philly. For a verteran team with…
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) August 22, 2026
I believe Dan Quinn is a good quality man but he plans & coaches scared (for my taste). His downfall will be giving multiple chances at something that he truly knows that is broken (Goods-Jones, Hartman) & Jayden Seahawk injury debacle scarred him into bubble wrapping him. https://t.co/Qegb4RozTs
— The_Rel_World (@the_rel_world) August 22, 2026
Moment of Transparency:
— CWallSports (@cwallse) August 22, 2026
That's great that the #Commanders played the non-injured starters today in preseason game 2.
The offensive line did not look any different than it does in training camp. I have said more times than I can count on @ABG_Errrything that most offensive reps…
The defense is legit but he to figure out a way to stop these explosive runs up the middle. Offense has weapons but they have to coach up Gublin to play center ( at the very least be the back up) https://t.co/PtMRs5xZoO
— Taj Wilson (@tajwilson414) August 22, 2026
Insta-Rooster after a dreadful (at times) 17-13 preseason game between the #Lions & #Commanders @team980 pic.twitter.com/O8DpbgP9pZ
— Chris Russell AKA the 🐓🐓! (@Russellmania621) August 22, 2026
Tyler Owens play finna be trending all week
— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) August 22, 2026
Robert Henry stock dropped. Before that fumble but definitely after.
— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) August 22, 2026
Commanders rookie Antonio Williams has a chance to be one of the more productive non-first round WRs this year. Twitchy route runner with downfield burst and underrated ball skills.
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) August 22, 2026
Williams had just 1 drop last season at Clemson. pic.twitter.com/X2RxLKEGYA
So you cut a mid level starting center, do almost nothing to replace him and wait until after the 2nd preseason game to say we need to get center figured out?#Commanders#RaiseHail
— Mark Phillips (@GoingCommander) August 22, 2026
The Commanders will be the first team in NFL history to keep nine receivers on their roster https://t.co/VIDKsTWIOD
— Full Command (@FullCommandShow) August 22, 2026
Commanders offensive line:#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/UZskn6ttsO
— Wam (@wamupnxt) August 22, 2026
Really nice of the Commanders to only have 4 offensive lineman instead of 5 this season in honor of Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/Ge8B92mzPU
— Matt King (@yapmatt) August 22, 2026
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Fans, media react to Commanders' preseason loss to Lions
