The Washington Commanders opened their 2026 NFL preseason slate on the right foot, beating the Miami Dolphins. And one player who was on nobody's radar may have just played himself into a roster bubble battle.
That would be running back Robert Henry Jr.
The Commanders heavily relied on their rushing attack, especially their two rookies. Sixth-round pick Kaytron Allen went for 85 yards and a score on 23 carries, but it was the undrafted UTSA product who truly turned heads.
Commanders have an interesting dilemma after unexpected Robert Henry Jr. breakout
Henry had 75 rushing yards on 12 carries, including a 22-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter. And Washington took notice.
Henry's debut performance may have reminded some fans of another Washington running back named Robert, that being "Fat Rob" Kelley back in 2016.
The undrafted free agent became the star of the preseason and played his way onto the final 53-man roster. He then supplanted Matt Jones as the starter during the regular season and led the team in rushing.
There's no guarantee that Henry carves out that same role. But he's getting noticed for all the right reasons.
Henry could also just as easily be another Jaret Patterson, another Mack Brown, another Martez Carter. But the Commanders have a difficult decision to make in their running back room, and it's not one anybody expected.
Robert Henry Jr. still faces a tough fight to make Commanders' roster
We all know that Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and likely Allen are roster locks. That might be enough, but now Henry is throwing a wrench into the equation.
At the very least, Henry's usage and performance should show that he's ahead of Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols in the pecking order.
The two veterans, who combined to see one carry on Friday, can likely kiss their chances goodbye of making the final 53. For the latter, his contributions for the past two seasons are appreciated, but the room is just too deep to retain him again.
Whether Henry can play on special teams may determine whether he makes the final cut. He impressed in that regard too on Friday, taking a kickoff return for 30 yards, although he probably won't be one of Washington's primary returners when the wide receiver duo of Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane both excel in those roles.
We'll see if Henry can build upon his impressive showing in the next two weeks. At the bare minimum, he should be a prime practice squad candidate for Washington.
But after this showing, the rookie will be hoping for much more.
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