The Washington Commanders are banking on a reset on offense, and the run game is right at the center of it. With first-time coordinator David Blough taking over, the plan is clear: make the ground attack work in a way Kliff Kingsbury never really did in 2025, and keep Jayden Daniels from having to carry the whole load again.
That responsibility falls on a backfield group that includes Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen. White is expected to handle the third-down pass-catching work, while Allen should chip in in a more situational role, similar to what Chris Rodriguez Jr. provided a year ago. But the real swing piece is Croskey-Merritt.
Last season, Croskey-Merritt went from the final running back picked in his class to Washington’s leading rusher, finishing with 805 yards and eight touchdowns. He did it while fighting for trust in the offense, since Kingsbury wasn’t eager to lean on him because of issues in blocking and as a receiver.
At times, that even led to him being benched for Rodriguez Jr. for long stretches. Still, he kept grinding through it.
His best stretch came late. After a midseason dip, Croskey-Merritt closed 2025 with four touchdowns in the final four weeks, capped by a 72-yard score against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. That finish only added to the buzz around a player who had already become the offseason darling once it was obvious he was more than a typical seventh-round pick.
Now he enters 2026 with added muscle and a chance to build on that breakout. He may not be asked to handle 25 touches a game, but Washington believes he can be a dangerous piece in an offense led by a coordinator from a coaching tree that likes to run the football. As long as he stays healthy and keeps the staff’s confidence, Croskey-Merritt should be the tone-setter for the group.
For a Commanders team that underwhelmed last season, Croskey-Merritt was the bright spot. In Year 2, the expectations are much bigger for “Bill.”
In Other News...
Stefon Diggs Just Sent The Commanders Another Message They Can't Ignore
Stefon Diggs keeps finding ways to keep Washington in the conversation, and the latest hint came through social media again. He liked and commented on a Washington-related Instagram post showing Wale training with the Commanders in Los Angeles, another small but noticeable signal from a player who has already made clear he is interested in joining the team.
For the Commanders, the intrigue is obvious, even if the path is not. General manager Adam Peters has not made any official move or announcement about Diggs, and the whole situation remains speculative for now, with no agreement in place. Still, Diggs has given Washington plenty to think about, especially if his preference is to get closer to home and make the move happen sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found The Stability Jayden Daniels Needed Most
The Commanders spent the offseason reshaping their offensive staff, and one of the quieter hires may end up mattering most for Jayden Daniels. D.J. Williams, brought in as quarterbacks coach, has already built a positive working relationship with the young quarterback and is viewed inside the building as a steadying presence as Daniels adjusts to a new support system around him.
That matters more now because Daniels has seen key allies move on, leaving him with fewer familiar voices as he settles into the next phase of his development. Williams arrived with some outside skepticism because of his family name, but the staff believes he earned the job on merit, and head coach Dan Quinn backed the move as the kind of qualified hire that can help bring some needed stability to the position. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Just Made A Jayden Daniels Change Fans Need To Watch
Jayden Daniels is getting a new voice in the room as Washington reshapes its offensive staff, with David Blough now elevated to offensive coordinator and set to work directly with the quarterback. The move gives the Commanders a clearer hand on the steering wheel as they continue building around Daniels, and it also reflects how much trust the organization is placing in a coach who has already spent time around the young passer.
Bloughs rise adds another layer to the offseason conversation because this is not just about a title change, but about how the offense will be built and who will help shape it. Daniels has already been working closely with him, and now the next question is how that partnership translates once the Commanders start putting the pieces together on the field. [Read more 🡒]