Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB
There is an enormous sense of intrigue around Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The seventh-round running back made an impressive start to the Washington Commanders' offseason program. He wasted no time in making a similar impact when training camp commenced.
Croskey-Merritt plays with a chip on his shoulder. The NCAA revoked his eligibility one game into his transfer to Arizona, which saw his draft stock plummet. He had to wait until the No. 245 pick before the Commanders came calling, but the rookie isn't carrying himself like a roster bubble candidate.
One cannot help but be impressed by the way Croskey-Merritt goes about his business. There is urgency to everything he does, and this came across once again on Day 1.
The backfield threat set the tone early by exploding for a touchdown. Croskey-Merritt also displayed his athletic elusiveness by juking away from safety Ben Nikkel for another big gain later on.
This is a positive start from Croskey-Merritt. In all honesty, nobody should have expected anything less.
Croskey-Merritt is not coming to settle for a secondary role. He aims to make an immediate impact on the offensive rotation and make a lasting contribution in whatever role is assigned by the coaching staff. Preseason and joint practices will provide more insight, but the trajectory is pointing upward.
Ja'Corey Brooks - Commanders WR
Terry McLaurin is officially holding out on the reserve/did not report list until his new contract extension gets resolved. The wide receiver is in the area and will be ready to go immediately after some middle ground is reached. Until then, other wide receivers are getting a chance to stake their respective claims.
Not many are anticipating a long holdout. McLaurin is too pivotal to the team's plans for that, so those further down the pecking order must take advantage of increased role until the alpha dog gets back into the fold.
The significance wasn't lost on Ja'Corey Brooks. He's looking to surge into roster consideration after going undrafted out of Louisville. A poor 40-yard dash time hurt his stock enough for teams to look the other way. However, the Commanders believe he can become a rough diamond with the correct coaching throughout the summer.
Brooks was among the standout performers on Day 1 of training camp. He was an extremely difficult cover for opposing defensive backs during scrimmages, displaying his solid blend of athleticism, body control, and ball skills to full effect.
The first-year pro was rewarded with two touchdowns — one from Jayden Daniels and another from Marcus Mariota. If Brooks keeps this up, he's got a fighting chance.