The Washington Commanders opened their preseason with a 20-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Friday night, but the biggest takeaway for Miami was the impressive debut of new starting quarterback Malik Willis.
Signed during the offseason to replace Tua Tagovailoa, Willis received only one series but made the most of it. The veteran quarterback directed a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that gave Miami an early lead before the Commanders’ reserves eventually took control.
Willis completed 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards and added nine rushing yards on two carries. His most impressive throw came on a 28-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, who made an outstanding one-handed catch over cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr.
The Dolphins capped the opening drive with De’Von Achane’s 1-yard touchdown run. Achane also played only the opening series, finishing with 39 yards on seven carries.
While Willis provided plenty of encouragement for Miami, Washington’s offense had an early scare when veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a leg injury.
Mariota started the game with the Commanders holding out starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and roughly two dozen other healthy players. Mariota lasted only four plays before going down on a non-contact play while handing the ball off to rookie running back Kaytron Allen.
Mariota immediately fell to the ground and was attended to by Washington’s training staff. He eventually walked off the field under his own power and entered the blue medical tent. After emerging a few minutes later, Mariota briefly spoke with Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough before heading to the locker room.
One play before the injury, Mariota had completed a 22-yard pass to Dyami Brown but took a hit from linebacker Tyrel Dodson on the throw. Mariota was slow to get up before jogging to catch up with his teammates.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn did not provide an update on Mariota’s condition after the game.
With Mariota sidelined, Sam Hartman took over at quarterback but struggled to find consistency. The third-year quarterback completed 8 of 15 passes for 80 yards and threw an interception.
Washington’s running game, however, powered the offense throughout the night. Allen rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown, while fellow rookie Robert Henry Jr. added 75 rushing yards and a score. The Commanders controlled the game once both teams turned primarily to their reserves.
Miami struggled to generate much offense after Willis left the field. Backup quarterback Quinn Ewers completed just 1 of 8 passes for 27 yards and an interception, while third-string quarterback Cam Miller went 3 of 11 and threw two interceptions.
The Dolphins’ uneven performance underscored how much work remains behind Willis as Miami evaluates its quarterback depth heading into the regular season.
Still, Willis’ opening series offered Dolphins fans an encouraging glimpse of what he could bring to the offense. His accuracy, mobility and composure helped Miami march nearly the entire length of the field for a touchdown, providing a bright spot in an otherwise difficult preseason opener.
For Washington, the 20-7 victory was overshadowed somewhat by Mariota’s injury, but the strong performances from its young running backs and reserve players provided plenty of positives as the Commanders began preparations for the 2026 season.
