The Washington Commanders got the chance to put the pads on at training camp for the first time. And as always, this was the first real chance to see what the running game might look like in a live-fire setting.
Thankfully, the reports were immensely positive.
Nick Jhabvala of The Athletic was among those who came away highly impressed with Washington's backfield dynamic. She's been critical of the Commanders' receiver unit this offseason, and the beat writer was also the first to pick up the questionable vibes last summer. So her praise of the running backs is notable.
Commanders backfield made a positive statement during the first padded practice
The Commanders are moving forward with a committee approach. Offensive coordinator David Blough wants to keep the room fresh, and general manager Adam Peters did his part by revamping the unit.
Ngl … I like the Commanders’ running backs room. A lot.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 3, 2026
It's early days, but even though there is no elite-level bell-cow capable of getting 30 touches a game, there is more than one way to make Washington a potent rushing force.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White are leading the way. They are explosive with the speed to turn small creases into lofty gains. In the free-agent signing's case, he could be a massive threat in the passing game.
If the Commanders want to adopt a more physical approach in hard-yard situations, they now have sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen. He is a brute force with the power and relentless mindset to never back down an inch. If Blough can play to his strengths, Penn State's all-time leading rusher can play a role.
Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols are trying to make the team. It will probably be four players who'll go through, and it'll be interesting to see how the dynamic shakes out. While there are questions around the center position, Washington's interior offensive line looked much more accomplished with a little extra physicality thrown in for good measure.
And it didn't go unnoticed.
Strong ground attack would change everything for Commanders' offense
If the Commanders could get more out of the ground game, it would form the foundation to open things up. Play-action, creative personnel packages, and making things easier for quarterback Jayden Daniels all come into play. The splashy plays downfield are nice, but most contenders have a strong running game to lean on.
It makes everything tick. It controls the clock and keeps opposing defenses guessing. Couple this with Daniels' dual-threat rushing ability, and it only raises optimism about what the Commanders' backfield could look like in 2026.
This all starts in the trenches. It's the blocking concepts installed by Blough and playing to the strengths of their running backs. After that, everything should take care of itself.
And if the first day of pads was any indication, the Commanders' ground attack might be onto something.
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