Commanders' biggest win from final preseason game couldn't be clearer

It was another lackluster preseason showing for the Washington Commanders as they were blown out at home by the Baltimore Ravens. While the results don't matter, it's given fans plenty of reasons for pessimism regarding those further down the depth chart.

Most of those who participated won't be on the 53-man roster when Week 1 against the New York Giants rolls around. But amid all the doom and gloom, there was a major positive that emerged at Northwest Stadium.

The Commanders got a massive morale boost earlier in the week when offensive lineman Brandon Coleman returned to practice. He'd suffered a complication at training camp and was treated with extreme caution by the coaching staff. This was the correct approach, especially considering the team is also awaiting Sam Cosmi's return from a torn ACL.

Commanders gave Brandon Coleman some preseason work, and he flourished

Coleman is making an important transition to the left guard spot this season after the Commanders traded for five-time Pro Bowl blindside enforcer Laremy Tunsil. This is also the reason why he wanted to gain valuable reps in a typical NFL game-day setting.

It was initially expected that Coleman would not feature to avoid the risk of further issues. That didn't sit well with the player, who told head coach Dan Quinn that he wanted to play to hone his craft before the campaign.

Quinn relented, giving Coleman some early reps before going to the sidelines. And the Commanders must have been thrilled by what they saw from the TCU product.

Coleman didn't miss a beat, displaying the raw power and athleticism that attracted him to the Commanders during last year's draft assessments. This was especially evident in the run game, with the interior force carving open some impressive lanes for Chris Rodriguez Jr. to do damage.

It was a fleeting contribution, but the impression left by Coleman was immensely encouraging. Quinn was impressed by the player's attitude to get back out there. The coach held the cards, but he acknowledged that the second-year player needed the work.

This is a huge step in the right direction for Coleman. It also alleviates fears about his status for Week 1, which is only going to help versus what could potentially be a formidable Giants defensive front seven.

The Commanders are going to have their hands full with Dexter Lawrence II, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and first-round pick Abdul Carter. Not having Coleman would have jeopardized the team's chances. Thankfully, that's not the case anymore.

And on an afternoon where there was little to cheer, Coleman emerged as the shining light.

More Commanders news and analysis