Bill Croskey-Merritt’s absence leaves the Commanders with a problem, but not without options.
Washington’s top running back by workload has carried 57% of the backfield’s attempts through five games and has more than twice as many rushing yards as any other player in that group. Even with a modest 3.6 yards per carry, he has been the engine of the ground game. Now he’s out Monday night against the 49ers with a groin injury, forcing the Commanders to patch together a new approach.
Dan Quinn called it a “re-injury” of the groin issue that sidelined Croskey-Merritt in late August until the regular-season opener.
“That’s harder, on the same injury,” Quinn said. “We’ll work really hard to get him back.”
Washington has the Week 7 bye coming up, which could limit the damage to a one-game absence. But at minimum, the Commanders need a workable solution against San Francisco, and that likely means leaning on a committee.
The backs available all come with some baggage. Austin Ekeler, a recent addition and old friend, has a chest injury and wore a non-contact jersey during practice.
Rachaad White has been managing a shoulder issue for several weeks and was also in a non-contact jersey on Thursday. Still, both were cleared to play Monday night on the team’s official injury report.
Jeremy McNichols could also be back in the mix. He has been on injured reserve while recovering from a quadriceps injury, but Quinn sounded encouraged by what he’s seen.
“This is one of the more professional ball players in terms of how he works and what he can bring,” Quinn said. “As we get to Monday - he has had a very good Monday, and we’ll decide from there.”
The challenge is turning that group into an efficient run game against a San Francisco defense that ranks 11th against the run. White and Ekeler are both hovering around four yards per carry, while McNichols has yet to see game action this season. The Commanders have enough bodies to cover the work, but the question is whether they can create enough production out of that rotation.
The shape of the run game may also depend on where the carries come from. Washington has found success on the edges from a blocking standpoint, and all three backs have the speed and agility to attack outside. Interior power, though, is another matter.
They can help in the passing game, too. Ekeler, White and McNichols all offer value as receivers and pass protectors, but Washington has barely used its backs that way so far.
Through five games, running backs - Croskey-Merritt included - have combined for just 17 catches and 83 yards. Getting them the ball in space could matter if the Commanders want to tap into that explosiveness.
Then there’s Jayden Daniels, who may be the most dangerous runner on the field for Washington. His designed runs, zone reads and scramble ability give the Commanders another way to stress a defense, and Week 5 was a reminder of how much damage he can do in that role. He ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in that game, and Washington could lean even more heavily on that element Monday.
“We’re lucky the teams have to account for the quarterback in our run game as well,” offensive coordinator David Blough said Thursday. “So, we’ll continue to lean into that and, you know, grow it as the season progresses.”
Without Croskey-Merritt, White appears to be the likeliest lead runner. Ekeler has only been with the team a few weeks and is still working back from the torn Achilles he suffered early last year, while McNichols has not yet appeared in a game.
White has shown he can handle volume before, carrying 272 times for Tampa Bay in 2023 for 990 yards and six touchdowns, though his usage has usually come in more of a split role. He has reached 17 carries twice over the past two seasons.
For Washington, the formula is familiar even if the personnel is different: keep the run game busy, stay balanced, and make the ground attack efficient enough to keep San Francisco from dictating terms.
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