{"id":8686,"date":"2026-08-05T16:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8686"},"modified":"2026-08-05T16:05:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:05:47","slug":"in-the-commanders-crowded-running-back-room-looking-for-a-jack-of-all-trades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8686","title":{"rendered":"In the Commanders\u2019 crowded running-back room, looking for a \u2018jack-of-all-trades\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) and Jeremy McNichols (26) are among those competing for one of four or so roster spots at running back. (Scott Taetsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

By all accounts, Jacory Croskey-Merritt overachieved as a rookie.<\/p>\n

After missing nearly his entire senior season of college because of eligibility issues, he fell to the seventh round of the 2025 draft. For players drafted in that range, merely making the team is far from a guarantee. Not only did Croskey-Merritt, nicknamed \u201cBill,\u201d make the team, but he also went on to become the Washington Commanders\u2019 leading rusher with 805 yards on the ground.<\/p>

Read more Speaker Johnson says Ethics Committee should carry out Max Miller investigation<\/a><\/p>\n

That warranted celebration, but the Commanders came into the offseason focused on what Croskey-Merritt needed to do to improve. As electric as he could be, his first year in the NFL was also an uneven one.<\/p>\n

Croskey-Merritt emerged as the starter in Week 5 but was benched by Week 10 following four consecutive underwhelming performances. He wouldn\u2019t start another game until the penultimate contest of the season.<\/p>\n

Altogether, Croskey-Merritt played just 38.5 percent of Washington\u2019s offensive snaps and had only 184 touches (30th among NFL running backs), according to Pro Football Reference. He didn\u2019t have the physical build to endure a larger workload, wasn\u2019t a receiving threat and couldn\u2019t be depended on as a pass blocker. He just wasn\u2019t capable of being an every-down back.<\/p>\n

General Manager Adam Peters and Coach Dan Quinn tasked Croskey-Merritt with changing that. The first order of business was getting stronger, and he pulled that off by adding \u201cseven or eight\u201d pounds of lean muscle mass in the offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel stronger,\u201d Croskey-Merritt said Tuesday. \u201cI feel like I can be ready whenever my number is called.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond that, Croskey-Merritt needed to work to diversify his skill set. Running back coach Anthony Lynn has worked diligently with Croskey-Merritt on sharpening his receiving and blocking skills. The second-year back said the mental piece of pulling that off has been more challenging than the physical, but he feels he has made strides.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do more than just run a ball,\u201d Croskey-Merritt said. \u201cI want to be able to catch out the backfield and be able to block and run. I just want to be the jack-of-all-trades.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Croskey-Merritt works to accomplish that goal, the Commanders have prepared themselves in case he doesn\u2019t reach the mark. They re-signed Jeremy McNichols, signed veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford, drafted Kaytron Allen in the sixth round, and picked up undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr.<\/p>

Read more Tennessee\u2019s Republican governor endorses challenge to sitting GOP congressman<\/a><\/p>\n

During training camp, the snaps have been evenly split among the backs. The Commanders won\u2019t roster all of them, but they\u2019ll probably keep at least four.<\/p>\n

Even though the Commanders have gotten a couple padded practices under their belt, most plays in team drills have been focused on the passing game. That\u2019s allowed White, who has had 205 catches for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns in his four-year career, to stand out as a receiving threat.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, right, hugs Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White in 2024. The former college teammates are reunited in Washington. (Thomas Simonetti\/For The Washington Post)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got just great hands,\u201d Quinn said last week. \u201cIf a team\u2019s playing zone, Jayden\u2019s good enough to put it on the correct shoulder. So, when he catches it, the run after catch is there. Not just throwing it to a spot, but [he knows] the specifics of where to go: We call that drop step. And so those are the things that I\u2019m excited to see Bill apply and get into his game. The best way to do that is to see it out here.\u201d<\/p>\n

White was college teammates with quarterback Jayden Daniels at Arizona State, so the two already have a strong chemistry. The value of that trust factor shouldn\u2019t be overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing is being in your spots,\u201d White said Wednesday. \u201cEverything with the quarterback starts with trust. Him knowing I know the play. He knows I\u2019m going to do my job. He knows I\u2019m going to be in the right spot. … He knows if everything breaks down, he can trust me to make something shake.\u201d<\/p>\n

McNichols is the Commanders\u2019 best pass-protecting back and is a skilled receiver. He and White are both currently better equipped than Croskey-Merritt to handle third-down duties.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the run game, Allen has also flashed. Penn State\u2019s all-time leading rusher is bigger than Croskey-Merritt at 5-foot-11, 217 pounds, and has more of a bruising run style. He could potentially carve out a significant share of carries.<\/p>\n

Offensive coordinator David Blough plans to run the ball more often this year, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily guarantee that Croskey-Merritt\u2019s snap count will go up. If he doesn\u2019t display the growth the Commanders are looking for, they\u2019ll continue to operate with more of a running-back-by-committee approach.<\/p>

Read more Rep. Chuck Edwards drops reelection bid following House censure recommendation<\/a><\/p>\n

Observations<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Jacory Croskey-Merritt works to improve on his rookie season, the Commanders have re-signed Jeremy McNichols, signed veterans Rachaad White and Jerome Ford, drafted Kaytron Allen in the sixth round, and picked up undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nIn the Commanders\u2019 crowded running-back room, looking for a \u2018jack-of-all-trades\u2019 - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=8686\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"In the Commanders\u2019 crowded running-back room, looking for a \u2018jack-of-all-trades\u2019 - 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