Jayden Daniels, RB battles, and cornerback tests: What to watch in Commanders vs. Bengals

Washington Commanders preseason preview: Jayden Daniels makes his preseason debut, RB depth gets sorted, and Marshon Lattimore faces Ja’Marr Chase.

QB Jayden Daniels at training camp

Hosting the Cincinnati Bengals is not just another preseason game — it’s the Commanders’ first home appearance since that playoff run lit up the city last January. Monday night at Northwest Stadium, Jayden Daniels and the Burgundy and Gold jog back onto their own turf, even if most of the big names won’t stay out there long. Preseason is about clues, not conclusions — and there are plenty of storylines worth keeping an eye on.

Preseason Week 2 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
📅 August 18, 8:00 p.m.
📍 Northwest Stadium
📺 ESPN
🎙️ Commanders Radio Network, Big 100.3 FM

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Jayden Daniels and the “starting-ish” offense

Washington’s starters mostly sat in the preseason opener at New England. Since then, they’ve logged only two padded practices. As Daniels knows, to stay sharp at football, you have to play football. He’ll finally get that chance on a national stage Monday night — just not with a full arsenal around him.

Kliff Kingsbury is still waiting to see his actual offense. Four starters — wideouts Terry McLaurin (contract) and Noah Brown (knee), plus both guards — have been sidelined. Laremy Tunsil and Zach Ertz are among nine players already ruled out. Daniels’ debut comes with only five projected season-long starters in uniform and two of five linemen if rookie Josh Conerly Jr. maintains his advantage for the right tackle job.

Kingsbury put it bluntly: “When you don't have your kind of projected top two outside receivers [and] both of your projected inside pieces at guard, it's not going to really give you the chance to gel or really build that relationship until you get everybody else on the grass.”

Don’t expect a long look. Two series — maybe a third, given the canceled Ravens joint practices and Marcus Mariota’s absence — should be the limit. If Daniels engineers an early touchdown drive, Dan Quinn could pull him right away.

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Running back room

We’ve got some intrigue with this group:

• Brian Robinson’s future with Washington is murky. The range of outcomes goes from retaining the lead back role to not being on the Week 1 roster. I’ve shared my view on this in podcast (see above) and written form. If the Commanders aggressively plan to move on from Robinson, perhaps he plays little or not at all to limit injury exposure. However, Jahan Dotson played significant snaps under similar circumstances a year ago before he was traded and the MNF showcase brings added exposure even though Robinson is a known commodity.

• Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s preseason debut was cut short after suffering a shoulder injury. The seventh-round pick is expected to play. How much and in what capacity is interesting. Whether Bill makes the 53 is not the question, because he will.

• If there is a roster spot open, would Washington for RB4 lean toward Chris Rodriguez’s power, Kazmeir Allen’s gadget style, or Demetric Felton’s dual-threat shiftiness?

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Corners vs. Chase & Higgins

Get your popcorn ready. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins might be the NFL’s best WR duo. Joe Burrow is Joe Burrow. This is a massive test for Marshon Lattimore, second-rounder Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil.

Lattimore has looked healthy and confident after a rocky, injury-marred 2024 in Washington. Amos has arguably been the team’s most impactful defender all offseason. And Sainristil brings an aggressive edge in the slot.

Practice matchups against Washington’s banged-up receiver group haven’t been much of a test. Monday night will be.

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Run defense

The Commanders’ 30th-ranked run defense from last year gets a real measuring stick. Cincinnati RB Chase Brown brings dual-threat juice, and Washington’s bulked-up front — Javon Kinlaw, Deatrich Wise, Daron Payne — should see extended time.

No Bobby Wagner or Von Miller on Monday, so consistency at linebacker takes a hit with Duke Riley and rookie Kain Medrano filling in. Still, any initial pushback would be reassuring. Depth notes: Javonte Jean-Baptiste and Jordan Magee are out with injuries.

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Hurry-up attack and depth chart battles

• Dan Quinn’s preseason priorities: no penalties, especially pre-snap. Washington had 13 flags in the opener — his pet peeve.

• This game serves as an audition for pass-catchers ahead of McLaurin's potential practice start. With Deebo Samuel in the slot, could rookie burner Jaylin Lane carve out a bigger outside role? Is Luke McCaffrey ready to be trusted? Do Ja’Corey Brooks or Tae Martin get first-half run ahead of veterans Michael Gallup, Chris Moore, and K.J. Osborn?

• At TE, no Ertz means more Ben Sinnott — plus a chance for Colson Yankoff, who has quietly flashed all camp.

• Up front, three starters are missing, so OL depth gets stress-tested. Can Andrew Wylie hold up at guard if Brandon Coleman’s leg injury lingers? Is Trent Scott viable at LT depth? Could Julian Good-Jones leapfrog Michael Deiter at backup center? Can Chris Paul lock down a spot? Do Tyre Phillips or Foster Sarell belong?

• And don’t overlook special teams: K Matt Gay went 1-for-2 last week, missing from 49. He’s had a strong camp, but another miss could stir competition chatter. A clean night shuts it down. Lane, Allen, Osborn and Demetric Felton are among the primary candidates in the return game.