The Commanders’ running back room took another hit Thursday, with Bill Croskey-Merritt sitting out practice because of a groin injury after his most productive game of the young season.
Croskey-Merritt delivered 82 yards and a touchdown on only 11 carries in Sunday’s 27-27 tie with the New York Giants, but he came out of that game banged up. Washington listed him as a non-participant Thursday, and head coach Dan Quinn did not get into the issue during his earlier press conference. For now, the clearest update may not come until Saturday or later.
Austin Ekeler was also limited as he works through a chest injury. On-site reporters saw him in a non-contact jersey.
Washington was also without receiver Stefon Diggs and safeties Percy Butler and Tyler Owens, all of whom are dealing with hamstring injuries. Defensive lineman Javontae Jean-Baptiste missed practice as well with a pectoral injury.
Two other notable absences showed up on the report: defensive lineman Charles Omenihu, who is dealing with a groin issue, and quarterback Marcus Mariota, who is working back from a knee injury. Both were out on the field but working off to the side, according to reporters.
Quinn said safety Nick Cross, cornerback Trey Amos and running back Jeremy McNichols are expected to be full participants this week. Cross is dealing with an illness, while Amos and McNichols are both on injured reserve.
The report also listed a cluster of limited players, including Treylon Burks with a shoulder injury, Jordan Magee as his practice window opens after a hamstring injury, Quan Martin with an illness, Terry McLaurin with the hamstring issue that has lingered since Week 4, Fabian Moreau with a knee injury, and Jeremy Reaves with a rib injury. McLaurin played in Week 5 despite that hamstring problem.
For the full injury rundown, Washington’s Thursday report read like this:
DNP
EDGE Javontae Jean Baptiste - Listed with a new pectoral injury
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Has a groin injury from Week 5
S Percy Butler - Is dealing with a hamstring issue
WR Stefon Diggs - Missed Week 5 with a hamstring strain
S Tyler Owens - Hamstring injury suffered last week
QB Marcus Mariota - Recovering from a sprained MCL in Week 4
DL Charles Omenihu - Missed Week 5 with a groin/ankle injuries
Limited
WR Treylon Burks - A shoulder injury has cropped up
RB Austin Ekeler - Dealing with a chest issue from Week 5
LB Jordan Magee - practice window has opened; was on IR with a hamstring injury
S Quan Martin - Has an illness
WR Terry McLaurin - Dealing with a hamstring injury since Week 4, played in Week 5
CB Fabian Moreau - Knee injury shows up after playing more than usual in Week 5
S Jeremy Reaves - Has a rib injury
Full
S Nick Cross - Listed with an illness. Was hospitalized for internal injuries in Dallas after the game. Ruled out for Sunday after not traveling to London
CB Trey Amos - Recovering from ankle injuries (on IR)
RB Jeremy McNichols - Recovering from a quad injury (on IR)
In Other News...
Commanders Head Into 49ers Test With One Costly Problem Up Front
The Commanders head into Monday Night Football against the 49ers still trying to steady themselves after the tie with the Giants, and the biggest concern is not hard to spot. Up front, injuries have forced Washington into a thinner lineup than it wanted, with Chris Paul stepping in on the offensive line while Laremy Tunsil remains out, leaving the unit shorthanded at a time when it needs to be at its cleanest.
Paul has been asked to carry more than the Commanders likely expected, and the results have been uneven enough to keep the issue front and center as the matchup with San Francisco approaches. With little proven depth available behind him, Washington does not have many easy answers if the line continues to wobble, which makes this a problem the team may have to manage rather than solve right away. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Cross Gives Commanders Defense A Needed Lift At The Right Time
Nick Cross is moving back into the Commanders defensive mix at a timely moment, with Dan Quinn saying the safety is expected to be fully available for the upcoming matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. After missing games because of an internal medical issue, Cross returned to full participation in practice, a step Washington needed after the defense had some trouble filling the void in his absence.
The timing matters even more with Monday night preparation ramping up and the 49ers next on the schedule. Crosss return should give the Commanders a steadier presence on the back end, and it comes after a stretch that included an overnight hospital stay following the Cowboys game, a reminder of just how much has gone into getting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Are Already Facing A Brutal Injury Toll This Early
Through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, Washington has already absorbed a level of injury attrition that few teams can match, and the damage shows up not just in missed games but in the broader value the roster has lost on the field. The league-wide analysis measures that impact in Total Points, a metric built from Expected Points Added, and it paints a rough early picture for a Commanders team that has had to navigate key absences before the schedule has even settled in.
What makes the situation sting is that the loss is not just about bodies, but about high-end talent disappearing from the lineup at the exact moments Washington needed stability. When a team is already near the top of the league in value lost and still has more projected damage ahead, it becomes more than a short-term setback. It turns into a season-defining problem, with the Commanders now forced to piece together answers while waiting to see how much more of the roster they can reasonably get back. [Read more 🡒]