5 Biggest Questions Still Unanswered Entering Commanders Preseason Week 2

The Washington Commanders find themselves in a position where they've learned quite a bit from training camp and the opening preseason game, but still have several of their more important roster questions unsettled. While injuries have certainly wreaked havoc, particularly in the trenches on both sides of the ball, along with the running back situation, other competition has just failed to supply a clear winner yet. Below are the five questions Saturday's second preseason game against the Detroit Lions can either begin answering or further complicate things when final roster cut-day arrives.

1. Who Is Actually Winning the Center Job?

The center position has become more than a question mark at this point after projected starter Nick Allegretti missed most of camp; Julian Good-Jones absorbed the majority of that load, while rookie Matt Gulbin continues to make his own push. The problem is, Good-Jones didn't look very, well, good in the first preseason game against Miami. That doesn't change how the staff views him, but it certainly suggests they aren't comfortable with him as the center. Allegretti returned to practice this week, but before that session ended, he had what Quinn called "a light setback," which causes even more delays in getting Jayden Daniels ready for the season, as the two must build some sort of chemistry.

Allegretti's injury opened the door for Quinn to notice the guys behind him. "Both guys are really starting to make a move," Quinn said, with Gulbin coming off a clean preseason opener and Good-Jones having accumulated significant work since early in camp. "So, over the next two weeks, or maybe two and a half weeks, we’ll call it," he said. "I’d like to see what that rotation looks like with the three of these guys."

The Real Question: Can Gulbin or Good-Jones create actual separation while Allegretti’s availability remains inconsistent?

2. What Does the Offensive Line Look Like Without Laremy Tunsil?

In many ways, Washington will not be able to replace Laremy Tunsil. His leadership abilities and capabilities as a teammate are unmatched in most locker rooms. When you add in the fact that Allegretti is also missing from the situation, things start to get dicey. Shifting Brandon Coleman over to left tackle was the right move, but if he was well on the way to winning that job at left guard, Washington is now looking at a left side that is completely changed from where it started. Signing Daniel Brunskill, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Max Scharping gives Washington more experienced options, but Quinn has already stated those guys were brought in to increase the competitiveness at the bottom of the depth chart, not replace Tunsil. "We actually wanted to see if we could raise up the competition level in that back group, to see who could go," he said. "It was not injury-related. It was more like, ‘let’s battle this thing out and see where we can go.’"

The Real Question: Who will step up and be the leader on the offensive line in 2026?

3. Who Is Separating in the Running Back Battle?

This will be a tough one to call. Running back was already viewed as one of the top skill position groups Washington has had before Robert Henry Jr. had the game he did in the opener. Between the two rookies, the running back competition tightened up overnight after Henry ran 12 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, while Allen carried 23 times for 85 yards and a score against Miami. The performance left Quinn impressed: "As far as Robert goes, he and Kaytron both, I thought, had a nice night," he said. "Also, Jerome Ford went out. We had three backs for the game, and so when Jerome was out, there was really no flinch from these guys playing on teams, returning, and so that was a good sign." This week, not only is Jeremy McNichols unavailable, but so is Rachaad White, leaving the door wide open once again for the healthy backs who play to gain ground in the competition.

The Real Question: Which healthy running back will take advantage of their situation the most?

All 12 of rookie RB Robert Henry Jr's carries from Friday night.

More impressive from the endzone view. He ran with vision and made some big time cuts. I love the stutter step that helps him get the edge on the 22-yard TD. pic.twitter.com/Y3T0Ow0GUL
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) August 16, 2026

4. Can Washington Replace Johnny Newton’s Disruption, Not Just His Snaps?

This week, defensive tackle Johnny Newton received horrible news about his injured pectoral muscle. Newton will miss a significant amount of time, leaving Washington down a man in their rotation. Of course, their rotation also includes Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Charles Omenihu, Tim Settle when healthy, Byron Cowart, Maurice Hurst II, and others. Truth is, Commanders GM Adam Peters stacked that room with talent, but none gives Washington the same interior disruption Newton was expected to provide. Omenihu could be effective, given his ability to move all along the defensive front. Washington loaded the deck for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones to use multiple fronts, and will now have to employ an option as the primary. Newton produced five sacks and 27 pressures last season, so replacing the number of snaps he played is considerably easier than replacing the interior pass-rush disruption those snaps produced.

The Real Question: With the depth Washington has on the defensive front, can someone they trust step into a pass-rusher's role?

5. Who Takes Advantage of the Backup-Quarterback Opportunity?

Marcus Mariota’s MCL sprain may have removed him from being able to guide the offense, but in the process, Washington will be able to evaluate what they have in rookie Athan Kaliakmanis versus what they've been able to develop in Sam Hartman since he signed with the team as a UDFA in 2024. This competition now has merit; if Mariota cannot go in Week 1, the winner of this roster battle would be one step behind starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Right now, I'd say Kaliakmanis has the advantage, as Hartman just hasn't done enough to make me see much improvement or to believe that he is better than Kaliakmanis.

The Real Question: Can the rookie stay calm enough to outplay a Sam Hartman who will be playing for his football life?

Athan Kaliakmanis links up with Jacoby Jones!

Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ZHCLtaTx8o
— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026

While Washington doesn't need the answer to all five of these questions Saturday, they do need to see progress. The Lions mean nothing outside of being the opposing team; the focus is elsewhere because the center position, the reconstructed offensive line, the running back room, Newton’s replacement plan, and backup quarterback all need additional evidence.

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