Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
Austin Ekeler's bid to cement his status as the No. 1 running back this season came to an abrupt halt. The Washington Commanders were dealt another major setback when the dual-threat weapon suffered a torn Achilles, ruling him out for the entire campaign.
Considering Ekeler is out of contract next spring, he's likely played his final game for the Commanders. Although disappointing, it's an opportunity for Washington's younger backfield weapons to step up and make their presence felt.
The Commanders will reportedly move forward with seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their top option. Jeremy McNichols is the stable veteran presence. Washington also signed Chase Edmonds to the practice squad. He has been injured a lot lately, but the player boasts a previous connection to Kliff Kingsbury from their time together on the Arizona Cardinals.
There's also Chris Rodriguez Jr. to factor into the equation. The former Kentucky standout impressed over the summer once again, but he was inactive over the first two games. With Ekeler's injury, he should now be back in the mix, which was a sentiment echoed by head coach Dan Quinn.
Rodriguez is ascending. He also performed exceptionally well when opportunities came his way in 2024. Croskey-Merritt can't do it alone, so utilizing his skills is a must.
Jaylin Lane - Commanders WR
It's another week of injury problems around Noah Brown. The wide receiver went off against the Green Bay Packers with a soft tissue problem. Head coach Dan Quinn revealed that it's a long shot he plays this weekend, which is becoming a depressingly familiar feeling for the Ohio State product.
Brown's first season in Washington ended with an internal injury that required kidney surgery. He missed most of the summer with a knee complication after being carted off at mandatory minicamp. This latest problem only adds to the fact that the Commanders cannot depend on him to be available anymore.
It's next man up. The Commanders signed Chris Moore from the practice squad to their active roster, likely to bolster depth rather than throw him into a prominent role. Jaylin Lane's outlook should be much more promising.
The rookie fourth-rounder has played 41 percent of the team's offensive snaps so far, bringing in two receptions from six targets for 13 receiving yards. Lane is being brought along gradually, but more is required if Brown is unavailable as expected.
Luke McCaffrey could also see more involvement. Kliff Kingsbury needs more dynamism from his offense, so he has nothing to lose by throwing this young duo into the proverbial fire.