Jacory Croskey-Merritt's ball security is a big talking point just one game into the season. If he keeps fumbling, it doesn't matter how much bigger, stronger, or more athletic the Washington Commanders' running back becomes.
Head coach Dan Quinn took Croskey-Merritt out of the lineup when he dropped the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. The Commanders fortunately recovered it, but that's not the point. He needs to do a better job in this key discipline, and patience is wearing thin.
The Commanders lost due to sloppy individual errors and a poor start at Lincoln Financial Field. Croskey-Merritt's fumble didn't impact the outcome much, but it was enough to install sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen into the lineup at his expense.
Commanders sent a strong message to Jacory Croskey-Merritt after more ball security issues
Quinn admitted as much, but he's also confident he can fix these issues.
Croskey-Merritt should take this as a challenge, and he has passed every test in Washington so far. And overcoming adversity is nothing new for the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
After having his college eligibility revoked just one game into his stint with Arizona, Croskey-Merritt became an afterthought during the pre-draft process. When the Commanders took a chance on him, he seized it, becoming a genuine steal after rushing for 805 yards and scoring eight touchdowns to take the league by storm.
However, ball security was a problem.
Croskey-Merritt fumbled four times last season. Two resulted in turnovers. It seems as if the same worrying trend is carrying into this year. Only this time, Quinn and offensive coordinator David Blough have other options.
Allen is a Day 3 rookie looking to make a big splash. After some indifferent preseason efforts, there was a lot more to like about his brief involvement against Philadelphia's vaunted defensive front seven. That should give Blough confidence that he can be counted upon, which raises the stakes for Croskey-Merritt in no uncertain terms.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt must respond positively, or the Commanders will find someone who can
It's a fine-margin situation for the Commanders this season. They are coming off a five-win campaign, and the same poor standards will pile untold pressure on the franchise. Anything but supreme execution won't be tolerated, and that includes a promising young player like Croskey-Merritt.
Fortunately, Croskey-Merritt is a hard worker who takes nothing for granted. He worked hard to bulk up this offseason, and it shows. The explosiveness remains, but he has to make sure the football is secured when violent contact arrives.
Otherwise, the backfield threat will have a limited ceiling.
The Commanders now have Rachaad White and Allen. Jeremy McNichols will give them another option when he gets back from injured reserve. Croskey-Merritt is leading the way right now, and he deserves to. But how much longer depends on his ability to protect the football.
That is the most critical thing above all else.
This was a stark early warning about what will happen if the same trend continues. Croskey-Merritt is a big part of the team's plans, and hopefully, this not-so-subtle message will provoke a positive response.
If not, it wouldn't be surprising to see Allen eat into Croskey-Merritt's carries when the Penn State product finds his feet.
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