4 winners (and 3 losers) from Commanders' preseason loss at NY Jets
By Dean Jones
Preseason games can be tiresome for some. However, that wasn't the case for Washington Commanders as they got a glimpse of how this new era could look under head coach Dan Quinn.
There was a significant amount of intrigue attached to Washington's warmup clash with the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. A few key veterans weren't risked for the matchup, but the Commanders gave rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels his first taste of live-fire reps at the professional level. It's a test he passed with flying colors.
The contest also represented a chance for those further down the pecking order to show that they deserve a spot on the 53-man roster. Some thrived with the added spotlight glaring. Others didn't perform as well and will look to improve their fortunes in the coming weeks.
With this in mind, here are four winners and three losers from Washington's preseason road defeat versus the Jets.
Winners and losers from Commanders' preseason loss at the Jets
Winner No. 1
K.J. Henry - Commanders DE
After flashing promise over the second half of 2023, K.J. Henry is looking to carve out a prominent role for himself on the defensive rotation once again. The former fifth-round selection is steadily building momentum throughout the preparation period to achieve this feat.
Henry looked like someone who could help during his time on the field at MetLife Stadium. He was a force against the run, setting the edge well and displaying more anticipation of where the football was going than we saw last season. The Clemson product also generated pressure when required, which was a big question mark coming out of college in 2023.
His tackle for loss to stop a play dead in its tracks was an undoubted highlight. Henry seems to be behind a couple of more established veterans right now, but there's nothing to suggest the edge presence cannot emerge into a valuable contributor if the same trend continues.
The Commanders need someone to step up and make a pass-rushing impact. Henry could be that guy if this performance was any indication.