FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Some will discard what happened Friday night in Gillette Stadium as soon as the game was over, but for quarterback Sam Hartman and rookies like running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the Washington Commanders ’ preseason opener represents their chance to perform on an NFL stage and prove they belong on it.

A tough start for QB Sam Hartman

With Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota among 30 players not dressed for the game, the start went to second-year undrafted free agent Sam Hartman.

Maybe it was nerves, but Hartman’s first pass of the night was a short toss to the right, the kind of play that usually indicates the offensive coordinator wants to get his quarterback an easy completion, and it was off target for his first incompletion of the n

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