MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 7: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
There were a number of silver linings in the Washington Commanders 17-13 loss to the Detroit Lions Saturday afternoon at Ford Field.
The biggest was that quarterback Jayden Daniels got some valuable preseason work and stayed healthy.
Daniels had to wait to get his first opportunity to step onto the field since being shut down late last year as the defense came out and gave Washington a lead less than two minutes into the game.
Lions quarterback Josh Dobbs was sacked onthe game’s second play by Commanders defensive back Amik Robertson, forcing a fumble. Edge rusher Joshua Jospeh, already having a good preseason scooped the ball up and scored to give Washington a 7-0 lead.
Upon getting the ball back, Dobbs was intercepted by Quan Martin at the Washington 44 yard line. Although that turnover didn’t result in points, in marked thr fifth turnover in two games for the defense, a unit that only produced ten the entire 2025 regular season.
“To see that was a great play by Amik, and I know there was a big fight for the ball as it got towards the end,” head coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “I think that Josephs was the one that ended up getting it. But even in there to go dig for it and battle, that was a big deal. And obviously with Quan having another one, that has to be just part of what we’re doing and how we’re thinking and the way we practice. So, I like seeing those. And I thought having some chances to get some fourth-down stops today, those are the ones I look back — I’m looking forward to watching the tape tonight.”
Daniels day was short. He his series lasted three plays, he threw one pass (which was incomplete), and was sacked by Detroit’s DJ Wonnum.
“Going into it, I knew this was, if it was going to be 10 plays or three plays, that’s how we were going to do it,” Quinn said. “Same thing defensively. So, I just kind of stuck to the game plan of what we had. Fortunately, he’s throwing an excellent camp, and so I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from him. It’s important to get these looks, but I wanted to, if I set a plan up, I was going to stick to it.”
Washington also may have found its third string quarterback.
6th round draft pick Athan Kaliakmanis seemed to outplay third year pro Sam Hartman for a second straight week.
After Daniels brief appearance, the two alternated series, in order to get similar looks in game situations. Hartman finished the game 9 for 11 for 67 yards and a quarterback rating of 92.0.. Kaliakmanis was 11 for 14 for 162 yards and a quarterback rating of 114.9 More impressively, Kaliakmanis seemed more poise in the pocket and delivered a number of impressive throws including an impressive 30 yard completion to rookie Jayden Bradley in the third quarter that led to a Drew Stevens field goal to give Washington a 10-7 lead.
“They’re battling for it,” Quinn said. “There’ll be a bunch of things we’re going to want to look at to keep digging in, and another game coming up. It’s so important for them, honestly, in the game. For those guys, managing the clock, working it all, being in tough scenarios, feeling the rush — they don’t do that in practice. So, the next practice, the next game, will also be super valuable for both of them.”
The Commanders will wrap up the preseason with a game next Saturday in Baltimore against the Ravens.
Bob Matthews is a 33 year veteran broadcast journalist, spending the last 29 years of his career in Virginia. Bob has covered both news and sports stories and for the last three seasons, the Washington Commanders. He looks forward to continuing to provide coverage to Sportsjourney.com both on the website and through his podcast, The Bob Matthews Show.
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