Kaytron Allen must prove Commanders preseason debut didn't expose his ceiling

The Washington Commanders' 2026 preseason slate moves to Ford Field this weekend, where the team will face the Detroit Lions.

Ideally, head coach Dan Quinn will give the starters more action. It will also be another opportunity for general manager Adam Peters' latest rookie class to show what it's made of.

And for sixth-round running back Kaytron Allen, it's a chance to grow after an up-and-down debut against the Miami Dolphins.

Kaytron Allen has room to grow after indifferent Commanders debut

Sonny Styles' polarizing performance in Washington's win over the Dolphins has been all the talk this week, particularly from clickbait-thirsty social media accounts. But it was Allen who gave Commanders fans a first impression that no one is sure how to take.

The No. 187 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft somehow managed to gain ground on all 23 of his carries while averaging only 3.7 yards per touch. Moving forward, Allen will need to build on that performance if he wants to establish himself in a backfield that has suddenly become less crowded after injuries to Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols.

It was one game. There will have been nerves. But building on the positives is crucial.

Allen quickly endeared himself to Commanders fans this summer with his "Fatman" nickname and passionate attitude as he enters his rookie year. He's the type of player Washington will love if he pans out; a ground-pounding force who'll be difficult to bring down and a ruthless mindset that's hard not to love.

The only problem is that based on his initial NFL test, he doesn't seem to have much big-play burst. And that was a concern during the pre-draft process.

Kaytron Allen may lack the burst needed to be Commanders' bell-cow option

Allen had one 16-yard gain, and aside from that, his other 22 carries went for an average of barely three yards. Meanwhile, undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. nearly equaled the Penn State product's yardage on only half as many touches.

The early return on Allen is that he's the type of back who, if you need one yard, he'll get you three. And if you need five yards, he'll get you three.

There's certainly a short-yardage role for him in David Blough's offense, and Allen should be especially effective in goal-line situations. But can he bring anything more to the table?

Allen was brought in to potentially serve the Chris Rodriguez Jr. role in Washington's backfield after he left for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Kentucky star was a similar type of power back, but he could also create the occasional big play by shedding tackles and bursting through holes.

In three seasons with the Commanders before signing with the Jaguars in free agency, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Allen could have a role to play, but it might be restricted until he shows otherwise.

Washington should be impressed by what Allen showed in his debut, but he needs to prove he can be a little bit more. Otherwise, Henry is already nipping at his heels on the depth chart.

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