Four Takeaways from Commanders First Joint Practice with Dolphins

Jul 29, 2026; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) stands on the field during a drill on day one of training camp at BigBear.ai Performance Center at Commanders Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Four Takeaways from Commanders First Joint Practice with Dolphins

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ryan Lippe | Last updated Aug 12, 2026 5:45 PM ET

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Ahead of their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, the Commanders hosted a joint practice to get the gears turning before taking the field. At times, Washington looked dominant, setting the tone early on both sides of the ball and hoping that momentum carries over into Friday's game.

Nonetheless, there were still errors throughout the team that showed there is work to be done before the real deal against the Eagles in Week 1.

Jayden Daniels and Diggs build instant chemistry down the field

Transitioning to a new system is no easy task for any quarterback. Now operating in a system that places Jayden Daniels under center more often, as opposed to starting from the shotgun, it was expected to take longer to get used to. However, Daniels was hitting his targets in stride, letting deep balls fly with accuracy and processing defenses much faster than many quarterbacks do.

Stefon Diggs had a huge day and proved that his route-running ability is still among the best in the league. Daniels noted the veteran presence Diggs brings to the locker room and how it will transfer to the field.

"It's awesome, just his feel for space," Daniels said after practice. "He's a dawg. He goes out and makes plays. He brings energy, he's a leader, so I'm super happy to have Stefon in that room, not just for the offense but for the whole team in general."

Pass protection will be a season-long journey

Laremy Tunsil's departure from the starting offensive line continues to raise questions on the field. Even though coaches and players have confidence that Brandon Coleman can step up to the challenge, that doesn't take away from the elite level of play Tunsil brought to the role. Early in the day, Josh Conerly Jr. was flagged for a false start and had some struggles in one-on-one drills against Chop Robinson.

With the line operating out of sync, running backs were limited in production and were unable to generate the explosive plays needed. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was held to a "quiet day in terms of yards because there weren't holes, but he ran hard," Grant Paulsen noted.

Secondary finally generates turnovers

Keep in mind that they faced one of the worst quarterback rooms in the league, but the Washington secondary still had a field day against Malik Willis and Quinn Ewers. After jumping a flat route, Mike Sainristil had a pick-six against Willis, something he has never done before in a real game. Amik Robertson also reminded everyone of the loud and confident presence he brings to the game with multiple pass breakups throughout the day.

Washington waits for a real test

Despite all the triumphs on the field, the Dolphins are not projected to do well by many metrics this year. In a few weeks, Washington will travel up I-95 to Owings Mills, Maryland, for a joint practice against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that will likely surpass many early projections. These early wins in practice are great for morale but will mean nothing if they cannot get the job done against teams that are going to seriously contend for a Super Bowl come September.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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