The Washington Commanders will be without veteran running back Jeremy McNichols for a few weeks. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that the valued leader and special-teams ace was dealing with a quad injury, and general manager Adam Peters decided that another body was needed.
According to ESPN insider John Keim, the Commanders have signed Craig Reynolds to a one-year deal. This comes following a successful workout on Sunday, leaving Washington's brass impressed enough to offer him an opportunity.
This is Reynolds' second spell in Washington. He suited up three times for the club in 2019, seeing special-teams time. He's spent the last five seasons of his professional career with the Detroit Lions, which makes him well known to assistant general manager Lance Newmark and offensive coordinator David Blough.
Commanders fill Jeremy McNichols void with Craig Reynolds signing
It's a like-for-like replacement for McNichols. He wasn't expected to feature much in the backfield dynamic, but his underrated contribution on special teams made him a lively candidate to make the 53-man roster once again. He may now start the season on injured reserve, which means the void must be filled.
Whether Reynolds can force his way into the equation is another matter.
He might be nothing more than a camp body, but Reynolds is experienced. He knows Blough, and Newmark obviously gave this move his seal of approval. But to make the team at this late stage, that won't be enough.
Hitting the ground running (literally) is crucial. Reynolds is obviously in good shape; otherwise, he wouldn't have been signed. Like McNichols, impacting the offensive rotation might be a stretch. But if he can flash on special teams during the preseason, that will only improve his chances.
In all honesty, that's all he can do.
Craig Reynolds must prove his value on special teams to improve Commanders roster hopes
Jacory Croskey-Merritt and free-agent Rachaad White are the top two options. That's not up for debate, and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen should also go through as the power option capable of gaining hard yards in between the tackles. McNichols was arguably the frontrunner for RB4, but he's now on the shelf.
The Commanders still have Jerome Ford and undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr., who was sensational in Washington's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. What neither of these players has is legitimate special teams value, and that's where Reynolds comes in.
It's a long shot, of course. Reynolds might be nothing more than a stopgap until McNichols returns or final cuts are due. But if he builds some momentum early, anything is possible.
McNichols is valued more by those in the building than the large majority of fans. But for Reynolds, this is all about doing enough to fill his shoes in the short term.
Everything after that is out of his hands.
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