The Washington Commanders gave rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt a chance to prove that his summer surge wasn't just a fleeting flash in the pan with no substance attached. Not for the first time since joining the franchise, he made the most of it.
And it's made a case that the coaching staff cannot ignore moving forward.
Most wondered if Croskey-Merritt being placed at No. 4 on the depth chart would result in an inactive status for Washington's regular-season opener. Chris Rodriguez Jr. ended up being the odd man out, and there isn't much chance of the first-year pro sitting out anytime soon after blazing a trail when his number was called.
Commanders could have the draft's biggest steal in Jacory Croskey-Merritt
The Commanders started with Austin Ekeler as expected versus the New York Giants. Kliff Kingsbury let Croskey-Merritt watch the opening exchanges before unleashing him into the action. And boy, did he set Northwest Stadium on fire.
Croskey-Merritt displayed tremendous vision to find the end zone, much to the delight of fans in attendance. He got the Commanders out of a huge hole near their own goal line, breaking out a massive run and throwing several Giants defenders to the ground along the way. After finishing with 82 rushing yards and one score from just 10 carries, it's no surprise to see fans demanding more.
Washington will bring Croskey-Merritt along gradually. Some might not like it, but it's the smart approach. Having a dependable veteran like Ekeler to lean on takes the pressure off. If the same trend continues and the rookie stays healthy, the Commanders will install him as the starter later in the campaign.
The Commanders are getting much more than they bargained for from the seventh-round pick. Croskey-Merritt got overlooked due to an unfortunate (and extremely harsh) decision from the NCAA. He's making up for lost time now, and Washington might have the draft's biggest steal on their hands if this incredible early momentum can be sustained.
Trading Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers was the first sign of the growing confidence around Croskey-Merritt. After the best possible start to his NFL career, which also saw him tabbed as the highest-graded running back for Week 1 by Pro Football Focus, the hype train is reaching supersonic levels.
Croskey-Merritt is taking nothing for granted. He's a strong-willed young player with everything to gain and nothing to lose. That's a dangerous combination that the Commanders are already benefiting from much sooner than anyone thought possible.
And who knows, this fairytale might have many more chapters to come just yet.