Winner No. 1
Jeremy Reaves - Commanders S
Very few Washington Commanders players emerged from the game with credit. Head coach Dan Quinn lambasted his squad for sloppy, ill-disciplined football that played a leading role in their demise. It was a gut-check for a team for which much is expected in 2025.
There were a few shining lights amid the doom and gloom. Veteran safety Jeremy Reaves was among them, displaying solid coverage and relentless energy in the secondary to bolster his chances of impacting the defensive rotation this year.
Reaves has been seen as a special-teams ace throughout his career. Joe Whitt Jr. highlighted his desire to get the defensive back more involved in his plans, and a strong effort at Gillette Stadium did nothing to diminish this belief. He was arguably the only one who showed real fight throughout, which is encouraging for the player but concerning for the team.
The All-Pro should be proud of his efforts. That wasn't the case for everybody.
Loser No. 2
Chris Moore - Commanders WR
The Commanders' wide receiver depth was scrutinized after joint practice with the New England Patriots. These concerns only grew larger after a one-sided preseason clash between the two clubs.
Chris Moore had been touted as a sneaky pick to make the 53-man roster in a crowded wide receiver room. He's shone throughout camp, so hopes were high that the same trend would continue throughout Washington's warmup slate. Unfortunately for the veteran, things didn't get off to the best start.
Moore dropped two makeable targets relatively early in the contest. That was enough for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to look elsewhere for the rest of the game. Once a player loses that trust, it's difficult to get back.
What the future holds for Moore is unclear. The competition for receiver places is fierce, and he was always pretty far down the list. There was no margin for error, so it seems like he's now fighting a losing battle.
Winner No. 2
Josh Conerly Jr. - Commanders OT
Almost every starter got the night off at Gillette Stadium. But the Commanders were eager to get Josh Conerly Jr. into the fire to see how he'd fare in a more competitive setting.
The No. 29 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft has been criticized by some for his slow transition this offseason. Not every rookie picks things up at the same pace. Still, there are signs over the last few days that the light is coming on for Conerly.
It wasn't perfect; not by any stretch of the imagination. However, the technique and pass protection looked right where they needed to be at this stage of Conerly's development.
On a night where there were very few positives to take from the contest, Conerly's performance should alleviate any concerns fans have. There is a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but he might just be the Week 1 starter at right tackle after all.