The Washington Commanders needed significant adjustments. Their Week 2 defeat was a gut-check, but the injury problems that surfaced during the clash represented a much deeper concern for the team's chances of going deep into the postseason again.
Every team deals with injuries. The Commanders are coping with a lot in one go, which is testing depth and forcing the franchise into contingency plans way ahead of time.
However, it's also resulted in one roster move that the team's passionate fan base has been begging for.
The Commanders were dealt a blow when veteran running back Austin Ekeler sustained a torn Achilles tendon at Lambeau Field. He's now on season-ending injured reserve, which is deeply disappointing for a player who had ambitions to hold down the No. 1 spot throughout the campaign.
Commanders are moving forward with Jacory Croskey-Merritt as their RB1 as expected
Ekeler is out of contract in 2026, so the chance of him getting a new deal is incredibly remote. The Commanders will move forward with what they have, although adding Chase Edmonds to the practice squad provides some intrigue considering his previous connection to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The dynamic has changed, but the team's unofficial depth chart entering Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders confirmed the one thing fans craved. That, of course, is Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the featured back.
New Commanders depth chart with Bill as the No. 1 RB and Javontae Jean-Baptiste as a starter at DE. pic.twitter.com/zBT0IKLmEf
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 17, 2025
It's been a whirlwind few months for Croskey-Merritt. The NCAA revoked his eligibility one game into his transfer to Arizona. This plummeted his draft stock, but the Commanders felt like he was a risk worth taking with their final 2025 selection at No. 245 overall.
Croskey-Merritt repaid this faith almost instantly. He won the respect of coaches and teammates through a relentless work ethic, making every opportunity count. He shone when called upon in the preseason to cement his status on the 53-man roster, and his stunning Week 1 explosion versus the New York Giants sent hype to a completely different stratosphere.
Kingsbury didn't involve Croskey-Merritt much in Week 2, eager to protect the rookie. Those plans have to change now.
He won't do it alone. Jeremy McNichols is the veteran presence in the room. Chris Rodriguez Jr. will also feature more after being inactive for the first two contests. Edmonds could feature once he gets back into the groove, but Croskey-Merritt will be leading the charge until further notice.
This is an enormous amount to place on a player who remains inexperienced. Taking the bulk of responsibilities is a tall task for anyone, let alone a Day 3 selection still trying to make their way in the league. But as everyone associated with the Commanders knows, Croskey-Merritt is not your average seventh-round pick.
Croskey-Merritt is made of sterner stuff. And he's more than ready for the moment.