There were some concerns among the fan base that Jacory Croskey-Merritt wouldn't even be active for the Washington Commanders' regular-season opener against the New York Giants. It turns out they had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Croskey-Merritt was active. And it didn't take long for the seventh-round sensation to make an impact.
The Commanders started the game with Austin Ekeler in the backfield as expected. However, it wasn't much longer before the Arizona product got some touches. And not for the first time since he joined the Commanders as the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, he made the most of his chance.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt marked Commanders' regular-season debut with a touchdown
It's getting difficult to ignore the hype around Croskey-Merritt. He sent his stock to a completely different stratosphere with a touchdown on his fourth carry of the game.
Croskey-Merritt bounced off the right edge, finding open space to the pylon. And the first-year pro's explosiveness allowed him to reach this point with minimal fuss to extend Washington's lead to 11.
OK BILL
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
NYGvsWAS on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/QBHl0tDPe8
This is exactly what Croskey-Merritt had in mind. The backfield threat acknowledged that he'd achieved nothing in the pros yet, so this adulation he was receiving for a seamless transition throughout the summer didn't mean all that much. However, gaining his first NFL score in a competitive regular-season setting represents a notable milestone.
It'll take much more to firmly establish himself, but Croskey-Merritt is quickly gaining the trust of coaches to get the job done when it counts. He's not come into the league like most seventh-round picks. He harbors lofty ambitions and has a big chip on his shoulder after having his eligibility revoked by the NCAA in 2024. And the Commanders stand to benefit greatly if the same trend continues.
Croskey-Merritt has arrived, and the Commanders might have a long-term backfield threat to go alongside Jayden Daniels.