The Washington Commanders needed one of their unheralded playmakers to step up in Week 15 at the New Orleans Saints. Veteran wide receiver Noah Brown was on injured reserve and recently acquired wideout K.J. Osborn hadn't picked things up enough to feature. Someone else needed to make their presence felt.
Many thought this was the opportunity Luke McCaffrey had been waiting for. The rookie third-rounder flashed promise this season without being too heavily involved in Kliff Kingsbury's scheme. Washington's offense was missing some influential figures, so this seemed like the perfect time to throw increased responsibilities in his direction, right?
Wrong.
Commanders diminished Luke McCaffrey's role in Week 15 at the Saints
McCaffrey's role didn't rise amid the Commanders' injury problems. It diminished.
The former Rice standout got just 12 snaps in Week 15. This equated to 15 percent of the overall share. That is a shocking number when one considers how depleted the Commanders were at the skill positions — a situation made worse when Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz went out with a concussion.
It was the lowest percentage of snaps that McCaffrey has been allocated in any game this season, by a considerable margin. His season percentage stands at 39 percent overall. Perhaps more worryingly, it's been an ongoing trend for the first-year pro since Washington's loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10.
While it's way too early to be giving up on McCaffrey, there is a glaring lack of trust in the pass-catcher. The Commanders did involve him on returning duties, where he caught the eye. He only got one target in the passing game, which he couldn't bring in.
This is slightly bemusing. The Commanders opted to depend on more experience with Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus alongside potential All-Pro selection Terry McLaurin. Washington also got Jamison Crowder immediately into the rotation after activating him from injured reserve.
McCaffrey needs more time before he becomes a prominent target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. And that's fine.
Nobody was expecting miracles from the No. 100 overall selecton in the 2024 NFL Draft. After all, McCaffrey had just two seasons as a wide receiver in college after transitioning from the quarterback position. This latest development suggests it might take a little longer to refine his craft.
The Commanders are taking their time with McCaffrey. Any experience he's gained as a rookie should serve him well. But with the stakes higher as Washington strives for the playoffs at the first time of asking under head coach Dan Quinn, he's quietly going to the fringes.
It's no secret that the Commanders need help at the receiver spot next spring. Adam Peters has to maximize Daniels' rookie contract before it gets much more expensive to keep him around. Where McCaffrey fits into this equation is anyone's guess considering he remains something of an unknown quantity.
A huge offseason awaits McCaffrey. If the Commanders aren't happy with his progress, they won't hesitate to acquire alternatives.
Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. The flashes alone this season suggest there's something to build on. That doesn't detract from the increasingly precarious situation facing McCaffrey heading into 2025.