Winner No. 4
Antonio Hamilton Sr. - Commanders CB
The Washington Commanders' defense should improve this season. Holding the Miami Dolphins to just seven points in the preseason was a good place to start, but the AFC East club's obvious lack of quality makes them difficult to evaluate.
The Commanders can only beat what's in front of them. Momentum is momentum, regardless of who it's against. And for veteran cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., it was another impressive evening at the office.
Remember how disappointed you were to find out Hamilton's age after he came out of nowhere to break out against the New York Giants last year?
Everyone hoped he was 10 years younger, but the Commanders brought him back this offseason. He is expected to play a core role on special teams, but this was another example of supreme dependability when tasked with reps on the defensive rotation.
Hamilton improved his chances of making the team. But against the Dolphins, that was the minimum requirement.
Loser No. 2
Johnny Newton - Commanders DL
Dan Quinn is expecting defensive lineman Johnny Newton to have a big year. However, the 2024 second-round selection has been underwhelming so far this summer, and this trend continued in Washington's preseason opener.
Newton lacks legitimate play strength. He still looks like a pass-rush specialist and not much else. Considering that Daronte Jones' 3-4 base front will be predicated on trench players capable of absorbing blocks so others can thrive, this could be a big problem.
The frailties Newton displayed over his first two seasons have not gone away. Javon Kinlaw, Daron Payne, and Tim Settle Jr. will start, and Charles Omenihu is capable of being a key rotational presence. With Deatrich Wise Jr. also capable of moving onto the interior once he returns from injury, the former Illinois standout has got a big problem.
Washington will not give up on the No. 36 overall selection easily. But it's evident there is a significant amount of hard work ahead.
Winner No. 5
Robert Henry Jr. - Commanders RB
The young running backs were given significant responsibilities. Kaytron Allen didn't have any negative-yardage plays from his 23 carries, but the sixth-round pick didn't look all that impressive. Undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. was a different story.
Henry is way down the pecking order. He's fighting to stay relevant, but this sort of performance will do wonders for his hopes of potentially sticking around.
The former UTSA standout got 12 touches, gaining 73 yards and one touchdown. Henry looked sharp, patient, and had the speed to break off some decent gains when creases became available.
Obviously, making the squad will still be a tall order. The Commanders have Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White, and Allen is probably going to make it as well. That leaves one spot for the rest, so the practice squad would still be a decent outcome for Henry in the grand scheme of things.
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