The Washington Commanders host the Miami Dolphins tonight in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason, with quarterback Jayden Daniels not expected to play in Washington’s preseason opener.
Instead, the Commanders are expected to turn to veteran Marcus Mariota as their starting quarterback against Miami while Washington takes a cautious approach with Daniels ahead of the 2026 regular season.
Daniels participated in the Commanders’ joint practice against the Dolphins earlier this week, allowing him to get competitive reps against another defense without taking unnecessary hits in a preseason game.
Is Jayden Daniels Playing Today vs. Dolphins?
Jayden Daniels is not expected to play against the Miami Dolphins tonight.
Washington appears prepared to keep its franchise quarterback on the sideline for the preseason opener after Daniels received significant work during the Commanders’ joint practice with Miami.
Daniels looked sharp during the session and was able to face the Dolphins’ defense in a controlled environment.
With the regular season still several weeks away, Washington has little reason to expose its starting quarterback to unnecessary preseason contact.
Who Is the Commanders Starting Quarterback vs. Dolphins?
Marcus Mariota is expected to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders against the Miami Dolphins.
Mariota enters the preseason as Washington’s veteran backup behind Daniels and gives the Commanders an experienced quarterback to operate the offense while Daniels sits.
Mariota’s workload could also be limited as Washington evaluates the quarterbacks competing behind him.
Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis are expected to have opportunities to play during the preseason and compete for positioning on the Commanders’ quarterback depth chart.
Why Is Jayden Daniels Not Playing?
Washington’s decision to sit Daniels appears to be primarily precautionary.
Daniels participated in the joint practice against Miami, indicating that his expected absence from the preseason opener is not necessarily the result of a new injury.
The Commanders can use joint practices to give Daniels valuable competitive repetitions while maintaining greater control over how much contact their quarterback receives.
Protecting Daniels is particularly important after injuries disrupted his 2025 season.
Washington’s priority is having its franchise quarterback healthy when the games begin to count rather than risking unnecessary exposure during the opening week of the preseason.
Jayden Daniels Looked Sharp Against Dolphins in Joint Practice
Commanders fans still received an opportunity to see how Daniels matched up against Miami this week.
Daniels participated in Washington’s joint practice with the Dolphins and reportedly performed well against Miami’s defense.
Those repetitions gave Daniels a chance to work through the Commanders’ offense against unfamiliar personnel rather than simply facing Washington’s own defense throughout training camp.
Joint practices have become increasingly valuable for NFL teams because coaches can create competitive situations without exposing quarterbacks and other important starters to the same level of contact they would experience during a preseason game.
For Daniels, that could make the joint practice more valuable than playing a handful of snaps Friday night.
Marcus Mariota Expected to Start vs. Miami
With Daniels sitting, Marcus Mariota should lead Washington’s offense to begin the game.
Mariota brings extensive NFL experience to the Commanders’ quarterback room and provides Washington with an established option behind Daniels.
The preseason opener could give Mariota an opportunity to build timing with Washington’s second-team offensive personnel while preparing himself to step into the starting lineup if needed during the regular season.
However, Washington will also need to distribute preseason snaps among the quarterbacks competing further down the depth chart.
That could mean Mariota plays only a portion of Friday night’s game before Hartman and Kaliakmanis take over.
Commanders Quarterback Depth Chart vs. Dolphins
Washington’s quarterback situation entering the preseason matchup against Miami includes:
- Jayden Daniels — QB1, not expected to play
- Marcus Mariota — Expected starter vs. Dolphins
- Sam Hartman — Expected to receive preseason opportunities
- Athan Kaliakmanis — Competing for preseason snaps and a roster role
The exact number of snaps each quarterback will receive could depend on how the game develops.
The biggest evaluation for Washington will likely come from its backup quarterbacks rather than Daniels.
Why the Commanders Are Being Careful With Daniels
There is little uncertainty surrounding Daniels’ position within the organization.
He is Washington’s franchise quarterback and unquestioned starter entering the 2026 season.
That changes the purpose of preseason football for Daniels compared with players competing for roster spots.
Washington does not need Daniels to prove he deserves the starting job. Instead, the Commanders need him healthy and prepared for Week 1 of the regular season.
Giving Daniels competitive repetitions during joint practices while limiting his preseason game exposure provides Washington with a way to balance preparation and injury prevention.
Dolphins vs. Commanders Game Time
The Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders meet Friday night in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.
Matchup: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Commanders
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
Game: 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1
The matchup will give both coaching staffs an opportunity to evaluate players fighting for roster positions ahead of the regular season.
Who Is Starting at QB for the Dolphins?
While Washington is expected to sit Daniels, the Miami Dolphins are expected to start Malik Willis at quarterback.
Willis enters the preseason as an important part of Miami’s quarterback plans and should receive the opening snaps against Washington.
Like Mariota, Willis may not play the entire game as Miami evaluates the other quarterbacks on its roster.
That sets up an expected opening quarterback matchup of:
Dolphins: Malik Willis
Commanders: Marcus Mariota
Is Jayden Daniels Starting Tonight?
No. Jayden Daniels is not expected to start or play against the Miami Dolphins tonight.
The Commanders are instead expected to start Marcus Mariota, with Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis candidates to receive additional quarterback snaps later in the game.
Daniels remains Washington’s clear starting quarterback for the regular season.
His expected absence Friday night is primarily about protecting one of the Commanders’ most important players rather than a change to Washington’s quarterback hierarchy.
For fans watching the Dolphins vs. Commanders preseason opener, the quarterback storyline will therefore shift from Daniels to how Mariota and Washington’s younger quarterbacks perform with their opportunities.