The Commanders’ ground game has become a little hard to pin down, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt sits right in the middle of it.
Offensive coordinator David Blough has kept the run game involved at a reasonable clip, so this isn’t about a lack of commitment. The issue is that the production has been merely decent on the surface, and once the quarterback runs are removed, the picture gets a lot less flattering. That’s the backdrop for Croskey-Merritt’s early-season numbers, which have started to raise questions.
Through four games, Croskey-Merritt is averaging under four yards per carry. Over the last two, that number has dipped to under two, with Rachaad White unavailable on Sunday against the Colts.
The fit was supposed to be cleaner than this. The thinking was that Croskey-Merritt would mesh well with Blough’s outside-zone approach, but that hasn’t shown up consistently so far.
What stands out most is that the traits that made Croskey-Merritt intriguing haven’t really surfaced in this offense yet. His explosiveness was supposed to be one of his calling cards, along with the decisiveness and burst that could get him into the second level. Outside of one run wiped out by a penalty, those flashes haven’t been there this season.
He’s still very much in prove-it territory in just his second season, but the numbers aren’t helping his case. White averaged 4.4 yards per carry against Seattle compared with Croskey-Merritt’s 1.9, and Austin Ekeler has now entered the mix as well. Ekeler was efficient with his chances, which only adds to the pressure on Croskey-Merritt to show more when the ball comes his way.
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 🡒]