Jacory Croskey-Merritt walks into Week 2 with a chance to do what he already did once: stress the Dallas Cowboys on the ground and tilt a division game in Washington’s favor.
The Commanders head to AT&T Stadium with Croskey-Merritt positioned as their most important player, and the matchup lines up nicely for him. Dallas just got pushed around by the New York Giants on the ground, and Washington can chase the same kind of success if it leans into the positives it found in the run game during last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
That makes rookie offensive coordinator David Blough’s job pretty straightforward. The Cowboys gave up 4.46 yards per rushing attempt on Sunday Night Football, and Cam Skattebo did plenty of the damage, averaging 4.5 yards per carry on 18 attempts.
Croskey-Merritt brings a different kind of threat, though. He isn’t just a downhill thumper.
He’s the sort of one-cut runner who can find a crease and explode through it, which fits the zone-heavy concepts Blough likes to call.
Washington has already seen what that can look like against Dallas. Croskey-Merritt ripped off a 72-yard run past this defense last Christmas.
Against Philadelphia, he didn’t create many of the same chunk gains, but he still hovered around four yards per carry against a tough front. That’s a workable base, and it leaves open the possibility of bigger plays if the blocking lines up cleanly, especially with right guard Sam Cosmi helping spring him.
The Commanders also have other ways to open things up. Blough can crowd the line with tight ends John Bates and Ben Sinnott, giving the run game more bodies at the point of attack. Sinnott has room to grow, particularly with starter Chig Okonkwo sidelined.
Still, the biggest issue around Croskey-Merritt isn’t scheme or personnel. It’s security.
He put the ball on the ground against the Eagles, and that was the fifth fumble of his short career. That mistake drew a pointed warning from head coach Dan Quinn.
Washington does have alternatives in the backfield. Rookie power back Kaytron Allen can take carries, and veteran Rachaad White adds versatility. But Croskey-Merritt is the one back who can truly punish Dallas over four quarters.
He’s done it before. Now the Commanders have a clean chance to let him do it again.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Mike Sainristil Question They Cant Ignore
Mike Sainristil is already facing an early test of how the Commanders handle accountability under Dan Quinn. After Washingtons season-opening loss, Quinn publicly called out the young cornerbacks performance, and Sainristil responded by owning the mistakes and saying his focus is on getting better. For a defense that wants to establish a sharper edge, the issue is not just one rough outing, but how quickly the rookie can steady himself as the spotlight gets brighter.
Isaac Yiadoms arrival from the practice squad adds another layer to the conversation, because Washington now has more veteran depth in the secondary heading into its game against the Dallas Cowboys. The move does not settle the cornerback picture, but it does put a little more pressure on Sainristil to respond the right way. How Quinn and his staff sort out those snaps will be worth watching, especially this early in the season when every adjustment carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dorance Armstrong Gives Commanders A Personal Edge Against Dallas
Dorance Armstrong Jr. is back in the Commanders lineup after serving a one-week suspension, and his return comes with a built-in layer of familiarity. After six seasons with the Cowboys, Armstrong now finds himself on the other side of one of the NFC Easts most familiar rivalries, joining Washington as it prepares for an upcoming meeting with Dallas. He is working his way back from an ACL injury and sliding into a reserve hybrid linebacker role in the Commanders' 3-4 defense.
Even with a limited workload possible as he adjusts to the scheme and the roster around him, Armstrong still carries obvious value in a game like this. Washington did not bring him in just for depth, and his presence against his former team adds a little more edge to a matchup that already has plenty of it. The Commanders will be watching how much he can handle, but they also know the timing of his return is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Need These Lineup Tweaks To Handle Dallas Better
The Commanders came out of their regular-season opener with enough encouraging moments to believe the roster can settle in quickly, but the 24-22 loss also exposed a few lineup spots that could use a closer look before the next meeting with Dallas. Washington has already spent time sorting through what worked, what didnt, and where injuries may force the coaching staff to look for more snaps from players who were on the fringe in Week 1.
Rasul Douglas, Antonio Williams, Ben Sinnott and Quan Martin all surfaced as possible beneficiaries if Washington decides to tweak roles heading into the Cowboys game. Those are the kinds of adjustments that can make a difference in a divisional matchup, especially when the margin for error is thin, but for now they remain ideas rather than confirmed changes as the Commanders weigh performance and availability against a Dallas opponent that will demand cleaner execution. [Read more 🡒]