The Washington Commanders closed out the preseason with a 20-10 win over the New England Patriots. Here are five takeaways from the matchup, presented by Maryland Lottery.

1. KJ Henry stood out early.

The Commanders have been looking for more depth at the pass rusher position since the start of training camp and in KJ Henry, they may have found someone who can fill that role.

Henry, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of Clemson, has adapted well to defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s scheme throughout camp, routinely showing off his skills in the run game and his development as a pass rusher. That progress was on display Sunday night, when Henry burst through the Patriots’ offensive line from the defensive left side and brought down Jacoby Brissett for a loss of seven yards.

Henry closed the match with a party.

Henry didn’t see much more action than that, making just one tackle in the first half, but what he showed was enough to bolster his case and earn him a spot on the roster. Henry has battled with the rest of the defensive ends at the bottom of the roster to impress a coaching staff that didn’t draft him. So far, he’s accomplished that goal with his performance in practice and his contributions on special teams.

There are several factors the team will have to consider when putting together their initial 53-man squad, but Henry at least managed to end the match on a positive note.