Preseason results don't matter in the big picture. Even though the Washington Commanders were unable to secure a second straight warm-up triumph over the Detroit Lions, there were some positives to be found.
There were also concerns that won't go unnoticed by general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.
The Commanders' depth in the trenches, on both sides of the football, is worrying. The same goes for the defensive backs, which could also become problematic. Nobody is pressing the panic button just yet, but there isn't much time to rectify these issues with Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles drawing ever closer.
Washington's starters got a little work, but that will probably be it until the real action begins. This gave those lower down the depth chart a strong chance to stake their respective claims, and some came to the fore more than others despite the outcome not going their way.
With this in mind, here are five winners and three losers from Washington's preseason loss to the Lions at Ford Field.
Winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' preseason loss to the Detroit Lions
Winner No. 1
Tyler Owens - Commanders DB
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones clearly has big plans for third-year safety Tyler Owens. The clues are becoming obvious at training camp. And for the first time, fans got to see this new vision for the 2024 undrafted free agent on an NFL field.
Owens is being used in various alignments. He's on the defensive back end, down at the second level, and even got the chance to come off the edge. More importantly, he made a positive impact as a do-it-all weapon who looks tailor-made for Jones' schematic concepts.
The status of the Texas Tech product on the roster isn't set in stone. But momentum is everything at this time of year, and Owens has a ton of it at the best possible time.
Loser No. 1
Lawrence Cager - Commanders TE
Anyone looking to make inroads at the tight end position is fighting a losing battle. The four expected to make the squad haven't changed and are unlikely to do so before the final cuts are made next week.
Lawrence Cager's fate was all but sealed with a less-than-stellar showing against the Lions. The former wide receiver has some useful athletic traits but continues to underwhelm when it matters most. Dropping two very catchable balls when big gains were there for the taking represented a body blow to his hopes.
A place on the practice squad is probably the best Cager can hope for once again. But even that looks like a long shot now.
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