There is nothing like padded practices. They are physical, aggressive, and intense. They also provide Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn with a better indication of what he has and what more might be needed.
And for one surging rookie looking to make a splash, the first day in pads represented his toughest measuring stick so far. It was a test he aced with flying colors to build even more momentum.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt is gaining more hype than most seventh-round selections around the league. The Commanders saw something in the No. 245 overall selection that others didn't. He's come into the franchise with a chip on his shoulder, and there's no doubt he's putting that to good use so far.
The running back's explosiveness, decisiveness, and purposeful rushing credentials have caught the eye throughout the offseason. Even so, it's hard to evaluate the position until things get more intense in pads.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt shone on the first day of Commanders' padded camp practice
All eyes were on Croskey-Merritt to see how he'd cope. And not for the first time this offseason, the first-year pro thrived.
Croskey-Merritt took advantage of every carry. He exploded gaps effortlessly and had no problem absorbing contact when it arrived. Improving safety, Tyler Owens, was there to meet him at the second level on one occasion, but the collision bounced off the backfield force with minimal fuss.
It's another box ticked off for Croskey-Merritt, and optimism is growing. This was a sentiment echoed by John Keim of ESPN, who's eager to see what the rookie can do when preseason reps come his way.
"I think who I'm most intrigued to see throughout the preseason is Jacory Croskey-Merriitt. Just because it's really hard to tell out here without pads on what he can do, but you see the decisive cuts. On film, you saw the violent nature of his runs. Watching him run some pass routes, he looks pretty good. So I think that he's someone I'm really intrigued by."John Keim via 106.7 The Fan
There is an opening at the running back position for anyone who forces the issue. Croskey-Merritt looks like the guy right now, which could provide the Commanders with a decent third option behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler initially.
Croskey-Merritt saw his draft stock crash after the NCAA revoked his eligibility at Arizona. There is a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but the early signs suggest that this unfortunate development enabled the Commanders to get a bona fide steal.
He's met every challenge and exceeded expectations so far. And make no mistake, Croskey-Merritt's early output won't be going unnoticed by Quinn or offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.