The Washington Commanders got hit with a rough reminder about their running back situation twice in the span of two nights.
First came the 1-3 record, the bruising loss in London to the Indianapolis Colts, and the injury to quarterback Marcus Mariota as the AFC South club shut down offensive coordinator David Blough's backfield. Then on Monday night, Commanders fans had to watch Brian Robinson Jr. punch in three touchdowns for the Atlanta Falcons.
Robinson’s breakout against the New Orleans Saints only made the old trade look messier from the outside. Washington moved him last summer after he had led the backfield in each of the previous three seasons. He was steady, if not spectacular, and the Commanders decided he was expendable after seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerged.
At the time, that logic made sense. It still might. But after Robinson’s three-score night, it’s easy to see why it stings a little more now.
The Falcons got five touchdowns from running backs named B. Robinson in their Monday Night Football blowout of New Orleans, and for the 2022 third-round pick, it was the first three-touchdown game of his career. Jahan Dotson also scored, giving Washington fans one more uncomfortable flashback.
It was a full reunion of sorts for Washington’s 2022 NFL Draft class, with the added reminder that both Robinson and Dotson were traded to Washington for the pick that became Saints wide receiver Chris Olave.
Still, the bigger point is that Robinson has landed in the best setup of his NFL career. In Washington, he was the lead back. In Atlanta, he’s the guy who gets the call when Bijan Robinson, arguably the best back in football, needs a breather.
That matters. Robinson is running behind a strong offensive line and facing defenses that have already been softened up by Atlanta’s unquestioned RB1.
So yes, the environment helps. But the Commanders can’t help looking at their own ground game and wondering why it can’t resemble anything close to that.
And right now, Washington doesn’t have a clean fix.
Croskey-Merritt has been a disappointment this season. Free agent addition Rachaad White has also disappointed, especially as a receiving threat.
Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen hasn’t done much yet. Robert Henry Jr., who flashed in Washington’s preseason opener, was taken off the practice squad by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Commanders also brought in 31-year-old Austin Ekeler, who is coming off a torn Achilles, and he looked like their best back against the Colts.
That says plenty.
The offensive line deserves a share of the blame because it isn’t opening much of anything. Washington’s runners keep getting stuffed on inside runs, and the group up front isn’t creating the kind of lanes a back can work with. But the backs themselves haven’t been good enough to erase those problems, either.
Maybe Jayden Daniels changes the equation when he returns with his dual-threat ability. Washington has to hope he does, because there doesn’t appear to be another answer coming.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
A rough afternoon in London left Washington with more than just a loss to the Colts. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 5, and the injury immediately changed the conversation around the Commanders offense after Marcus Mariota had already gone down and third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into action.
Dan Quinn said Daniels is on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants, a development that would give Washington a much different look than it had overseas. For New York, it means preparing for a division opponent that may not be scrambling at quarterback for long, even if the recovery timeline still has to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Week 5 Injury Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The injury picture around Washington has shifted quickly enough to become a real Week 5 storyline, and it reaches across both sides of the ball. The Commanders are trying to manage hamstring strains for Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin, while Charles Omenihu is working through groin and ankle issues and Marcus Mariota is dealing with a sprained MCL. Jayden Daniels is still expected to start despite his own dislocated elbow, which gives the quarterback room at least some clarity even as the rest of the roster gets more complicated.
Nick Cross adds another layer after his illness and hospitalization, and the list of limited or sidelined players keeps the pressure on Washingtons depth. For a team already balancing injuries at receiver, along the defensive front and behind center, the concern is less about any one name than the cumulative effect on how the Commanders can actually function this week. The next update on availability may say plenty about how much margin this group still has left. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A QB Decision They Can't Ignore
Washingtons quarterback room got another look this week after the team brought in Jack Plummer for a workout following Marcus Mariotas injury. For now, though, the Commanders are not planning to add him, a sign they believe Mariotas absence will be short enough to avoid an injured reserve move. With Jayden Daniels also expected back soon from an elbow injury, the position remains in a holding pattern while the staff waits to see how the health of the room settles.
Dan Quinn has stayed upbeat through a stretch that has featured multiple injuries around the roster, and this latest quarterback wrinkle fits the same uneasy theme. The Commanders do not appear ready to make a roster move at the position yet, but they are clearly keeping options open as they navigate a week-to-week situation that could shift quickly depending on Mariota and Daniels. [Read more 🡒]