Instant reactions to the Commanders preseason finale vs the Ravens

The Defense

The Positives

• Jamin Davis looks like a different player than he was a year ago. Despite only playing two possessions, Davis had two tackles and a tackle for loss. It may be against Baltimore’s backups but Davis has been trending upward. Against the Chiefs, he looked poised and confident filling gaps in the run game. He only looked better, as he should, against backups. Davis seems poised to take hold of the starting linebacker spot next to Cole Holcomb.
• Jeremy Reaves made plays throughout the third preseason game for the Commanders. Whether he was shooting through the backfield for a tackle for loss, playing solid coverage, or covering punts Reaves showed why he should get strong consideration for a roster spot. He simply does all the little things well, and Rivera noted how he appreciated how Reaves does the little things well to ESPN’s John Keim. I left Reaves off my 53-man roster a few weeks ago. That may have to change.
• Benjamin St-Juste flashed his potential. On a deep curl by the Ravens receiver, St-Juste displayed his acceleration by closing fast to the ball to deflect the pass away. St-Juste played on the outside in the two drives he played, showing his positional versatility being a potential weapon for the Commanders’ coaching staff.
• Daniel Wise capped off his impressive preseason performance with a few quality run stops. Wise has looked explosive as a pass rusher for Washington in the preseason. With depth concerns on the defensive line, Wise seems to be assuaging that just a bit, as he looks like someone that can contribute immediately.

The Negatives 

• The lack of depth for Washington in the secondary reared its ugly head in Baltimore. It wasn’t just the backend roster guys struggling, it was the primary backups. Both Danny Johnson and Percy Butler bit hard on a double move by Demarcus Robinson, as he hauled in the long pass before scampering for a touchdown. Christian Holmes struggled at points tonight too. All three of those guys could make the team, with Johnson being a potential starter if one player goes down. The Commanders need to be looking for secondary help post-cutdown on Tuesday.

Special Teams 

• Joey Slye has now missed two kicks in the preseason. After missing an extra point against the Panthers, Slye pushed a 43-yard field goal wide left against the Ravens. Each time it was first kick of the game. Slye being overeager at the beginning of games is what Rivera attributes the inaccuracy towards. Slye missed only one kick in 2021, a blocked extra point, so there is no need for panic yet. Slye will need to temper that excitement when the games matter, though.