The Commanders will see Miami for a joint practice and preseason game. Which players need to impress?

The Miami Dolphins are coming to town this week for a joint practice and preseason game.

After two weeks of training camp, the evaluation period for the 53-man roster kicks into overdrive for the Commanders. There are a number of positions still up in the air, headlined by wide receiver, safety and kicker.

The joint practice will take place on Wednesday and the preseason game on Friday. Here are the biggest storylines to watch over the next three days, and how the Commanders are approaching this critical period.

Offense

Wide receiver

No position is more overanalyzed than wide receiver. Training camp started with questions about whether the front office would get a veteran free agent or if the roster had enough talent.

General manager Adam Peters answered them last week by signing Stefon Diggs to be his No. 2 receiver. The top end of the room looks quite strong with Terry McLaurin and Diggs leading the way. So now there may be too many players for too few spots.

Washington signed Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks in the offseason. The team drafted Antonio Williams in the third round and still has recent draft picks Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane.

The Commanders opened 2025 with five receivers on the 53-man roster, but could opt to carry one or two more this year.

Out of the group fighting spots behind McLaurin and Diggs, McCaffrey has had the most productive camp. Burks is a close second. It would be hard to imagine Washington not keeping Lane because of his ability as a punt returner. It also would be hard not to see Williams on the team as a highly drafted rookie.

That leaves Jefferson and Brown fighting for a place.

To this point, Brown has flashed a bit more than Jefferson in camp. But seeing it against another team will be a critical benchmark.

“I like [joint practices] for the evaluation of seeing who steps up, who gets into those spaces,” head coach Dan Quinn said.

Quinn also complimented Jefferson on Tuesday, saying he can be trusted to get in the right place.

“Van is exacting. Sits down in the zone to catch at the location,” Quinn said. “That’s a good feeling for a QB. Right spot, right location, get the right yards.”

Offensive line

Receivers might take up most of the oxygen in camp, but the Commanders have bigger issues. The offensive line is under renovation with five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil out for an extended period with a torn triceps.

Washington moved Brandon Coleman over to left tackle to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels’ blind side. For now, Quinn said Coleman is entrenched as the starter. There will be no competition. But if he struggles, maybe that could change.

One position where there is a little competition is at center. Nick Allegretti was projected as Washington’s starter, but he has missed most of camp with a calf strain. He is expected to return next week. In his place, the Commanders will get a long look at Julian Good-Jones, who has less experience. Quinn said the position is still up in the air.

Third quarterback

The top two quarterback spots are solidified. Daniels is the franchise star, and Marcus Mariota is his backup.

But who will be the third quarterback? Last year, the Commanders included three quarterbacks on the initial roster, with Josh Johnson rounding out the group.

This year, it is a battle between Sam Hartman and former Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Hartman spent time on the practice squad last year and knows how to take care of the football. Kaliakmanis, the team’s seventh-round pick, has a better arm than Hartman, but he has made more mistakes in camp. Both will get a chance to play in the preseason.

Kicker

The kicking competition between Jake Moody and rookie Drew Stevens hasn’t gone well for either of them.

Moody missed 11 field goal attempts in the last week. Stevens was slightly more accurate, but missed three kicks on Monday. Getting live reps in a preseason game will be critical to win the position battle — one that nobody seems to want to win.

Defense

Safety

The Commanders have plenty of guys in the safety room, but it’s unclear if they have the guy at free safety. Quan Martin, a second-round pick in 2023, has had flashes but hasn’t shown consistency. Pro Football Focus graded him 90th of 98 qualifying safeties last season. Martin has started the past two seasons, but in his contract year, Jeremy Reaves is pushing for his spot with a strong camp performance.

Martin could benefit from a good showing against an outside opponent, whereas Reaves has consistently performed well against the stiffest competition the Commanders have thrown at him. Meanwhile, Nick Cross, who signed a two-year, $14 million deal in the offseason, should be locked in as the starting strong safety.

Cornerback

After fracturing his fibula last November, Trey Amos returned to the field for the first time Friday, only to leave Saturday with a different injury. Quinn has already declared him out for the joint practice and preseason game against Miami.

“We’re still assessing where he is, kind of fell awkwardly on his ankle,” Quinn said. He said they’ll have a better sense next week.

Even if Amos returns then, it’s not a given he’ll be game-ready by the season opener considering he hasn’t played real football in nine months. The Commanders also have starting corners in Amik Robertson, who will be on the boundary, or short side of the field, and Mike Sainristil, who has had an impressive camp showing. On their most recent depth chart, the team lists Rasul Douglas as Amos’ backup, but Fabian Moreau could be another option.

Inside linebacker

On the last day of camp before the Dolphins come to town, Commanders fans packed in along the fences hoping for just a glimpse of first-round pick Sonny Styles.

The Ohio State linebacker was picked seventh overall and should contribute immediately. But defensive coordinator Daronte Jones said Tuesday he still wants to see the rookie take more chances.

“We have challenged him in that way, and you can see at times where he cuts it loose, and you can really see that speed on tape,” Jones said. “And that’s just what most guys who are one, young, and they’re kind of still playing tentatively a little bit, but then letting that just go. I’d rather you go full speed and make a mistake than be too slow and be right.”

Styles is listed along with Leo Chenal as a potential starter playing alongside Frankie Luvu, but his teammates think the rookie has the tools to earn the spot.