It's been a difficult week for the Washington Commanders. Suffering their first defeat of the season was the least of their problems.
Dan Quinn is navigating some troubling injury issues right now. The Commanders have lost two established veterans for the entire season. One of them, Austin Ekeler, removes the primary veteran presence from Washington's running back room.
Ekeler tore his Achilles tendon late in their game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Although disappointing, the corresponding move is something that fans have been clamoring for all summer.
Commanders will lean on Jacory Croskey-Merritt heavily in Week 3, and he must deliver
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is now the team's No. 1 backfield option. The Commanders will also lean on Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. to pick up the slack. Still, the seventh-round rookie is going to get a litmus test in a starting role much sooner than anyone anticipated.
Croskey-Merritt took the Commanders by storm this summer. His aggressive running style and relentless work ethic won the respect of veteran teammates quickly. More importantly, the No. 245 overall pick proved capable of making plays in a game-day setting, which was evidenced by a barnstorming performance against the New York Giants in Week 1.
Washington didn't involve Croskey-Merritt much in Week 2, which could have been down to the formidable Green Bay defensive front dominating the Commanders' offensive line. They wanted to bring the first-year pro along gradually, but Ekeler's unfortunate injury changed the landscape considerably.
Now, he's the lead back. And there is a stern test of credentials awaiting Croskey-Merritt when the Las Vegas Raiders come to town this weekend.
Like the Commanders, they are sitting at 1-1 after a disappointing defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. Despite their problems so far, their run defense has been stellar, giving up just 70.5 yards per game — ranked fourth league-wide. They are also conceding 3.2 yards per rush attempt, so the task facing Croskey-Merritt cannot be overstated.
If the former New Mexico and Arizona standout wants to prove his worth as a legitimate long-term option, these are the tests he must pass almost every week. This also represents a mouthwatering clash between two gifted rookies who came into the league at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Croskey-Merritt was a late Day 3 pick after the NCAA revoked his eligibility one game into the 2024 season. The Raiders took Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall after his phenomenal campaign, where he amassed 2,601 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns, and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Travis Hunter.
However, Croskey-Merritt has 18 more rushing yards and the same number of touchdowns from 16 fewer carries to begin their NFL careers. If he can outperform Jeanty again, the Commanders' chances of winning improve exponentially.