Bengals vs. Commanders Notebook: Rookies Shine in Preseason Finale
The Washington Commanders concluded the preseason with a 21-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night at FedEx Field.
The game was the final opportunity for those on the bubble to prove themselves ahead of roster cuts on Tuesday, and several did en route to finishing the exhibition slate undefeated.
Here are three takeaways from Washington's last preseason contest ...
ROOKIES LEAD WAY ON OFFENSE
Washington's offense, despite not playing its starters, had a pretty steady day at the office, featuring strong showings from a pair of rookies.
Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., a sixth-round pick in April, had an impressive showing on the ground, taking seven carries for a team-high 52 yards, an average of 7.4 yards per carry.
The Commanders' rushing game was strong throughout the night, running for 150 yards on 25 carries while averaging six yards per attempt.
Through the air, undrafted receiver Mitchell Tinsley proved explosive, catching three passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and coming a yard away from having another score to his name.
Another impressive undrafted rookie receiver was Brycen Tremayne, who caught all three of his targets for 26 yards and a touchdown.
In the passing game, third-string signal caller Jake Fromm continued his solid preseason, completing 13 of 18 yards for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Backup passer Jacoby Brissett started the game for Washington, going 10 of 15 for 96 yards and a touchdown.
By all accounts, the Commanders' offense turned in a balanced performance and showed plenty of depth, only making the looming roster decisions tougher for coach Ron Rivera and staff.
TOOHILL, WHITTAKER HEADLINE DEFENSE
Apart from holding the Bengals under 20 points, getting a stop on what proved to be a game-deciding two-point conversion try and holding strong on one final drive late, Washington's defense enjoyed several standout individual showings.
Defensive end Casey Toohill had a tremendous first half, recording three quarterback hits and adding two tackles. Linebacker Khaleke Hudson also lived in the backfield early, collecting a pair of tackles for loss.
In the secondary, cornerbacks Jace Whittaker and Nick Whiteside had productive days playing the football, with each breaking up two passes while Whittaker made an interception in the endzone.
The Commanders' lone sack came courtesy of defensive end William Bradley-King, who dropped Bengals quarterback Reid Sinnett for a loss of five yards.
Washington was led in tackles by linebacker Dejon Harris and rookie safety Jartavius Martin, who had eight and five tackles, respectively.
As with the case offensively, the Commanders didn't play their starters on defense ... but there were still several important takeaways.
TURNER'S PRESEASON ASCENSION CONTINUES
Commanders tight end Cole Turner has put together a good overall preseason, catching 10 passes for 75 yards. He capped it off with a team-high four receptions against Cincinnati for a total of 20 yards.
Turner, a fifth-round pick in 2022, has now led the Commanders in receptions twice this preseason, the first coming in a four-grab, 31-yard game in the opener against the Cleveland Browns.
The Commanders have Logan Thomas and John Bates in the tight end's room, but Turner continues to prove he has plenty of upside and can be an impact player in the long run.
The next time Washington hits the field will be Week 1, when it hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 10. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
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