Jacory Croskey-Merritt has returned to the practice field at mandatory minicamp. And that wasn't the only thing reporters noticed about the Washington Commanders running back.
The man they call Bill got bigger.
It was a sensational rookie campaign for Croskey-Merritt, given that he was the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. The foundations were laid over the summer, where he took the team by storm. Aside from hitting an inevitable wall midway through the season, his production represents the best possible platform from which to build.
Croskey-Merritt figures to play an important role again. And he's worked hard to ensure his body copes better with the constant punishment backfield forces around the NFL contend with every year.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt bulked up before pivotal season with the Commanders
Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic was among those who noticed the difference in Croskey-Merritt's physique. He's bulked up, despite suffering an injury complication. This won't prevent the risk of injury, but it will make him a more imposing presence.
Bill got bigger this offseason. pic.twitter.com/m5duUbXeuU
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 17, 2026
It also shows Croskey-Merritt is taking nothing for granted in Year 2. Looking at the added competition for reps in the running back room, it's not hard to see why.
Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen all arrived this offseason. They are all looking for playing time, so it's on Croskey-Merritt to remain the top dog amid a dynamic that looks uncertain right now.
Being in better physical shape will help his cause.
Croskey-Merritt isn't the second coming of Derrick Henry, of course. He's more defined, but not so much that it diminishes his explosiveness. If he can find the right balance, he's got a real shot at making the improvements required to cement his long-term outlook in Washington.
It was hard not to become enamored by Croskey-Merritt's story last year. Things looked incredibly bleak after the NCAA revoked his eligibility at Arizona just one game into the 2024 season. The perseverance, relentless mindset, and ambition saw him fight back despite significant adversity.
Now, it's about taking the next step.
Putting up numbers as a Day 3 rookie when teams don't see you coming is one thing. Doing it when you'll be strategized against specifically by opposing defensive coordinators is something else entirely. That is the task awaiting Croskey-Merritt, but he's not spent the offseason reveling in his first-year accomplishments.
He wants more.
It's the little details like this that tend to make a big difference when it comes to the crunch. Hopefully, that'll be the case for Croskey-Merritt in pursuit of proving he is no flash in the pan.
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