Jacory Croskey-Merritt put together his best performance of the season in Week 5 against the New York Giants. And yet, the Washington Commanders are still working through some trust issues with the running back.
Croskey-Merritt looked explosive, especially running off-tackle. He took care of the football, which hasn't always been the case this season. He typically does well against the Giants, and this outing was no different despite the Commanders inexplicably tying the game after an overtime calamity.
However, it appears the 2025 seventh-round pick still has some hard work ahead to become Washington's lead-back option.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt still has to win back Commanders coaches' trust
When it came to the crunch, the Commanders trusted free-agent signing Rachaad White more. He got the touches with everything on the line. The Arizona State product also played 15 more snaps than Croskey-Merritt, who was on the field for just 35 percent of the offense's involvement.
Croskey-Merritt made his touches count, gaining 82 rushing yards and one touchdown on just 11 carries, for 7.5 yards per rush. That represents a big step in the right direction for the second-year pro, but the Commanders opted not to ride the hot hand.
It's another sign of the coaching staff preferring experience over their young stars.
White gained 18 rushing yards from seven touches, and his pass protection was lackluster at best. This was also his first game back from a shoulder injury, so just why the Commanders went with him on the field so often was bemusing.
If Croskey-Merritt was struggling to gain yards on the ground, it's a different story.
That wasn't the case. At least not in this game.
Commanders should have rode Jacory Croskey-Merritt's hot hand in Week 5
Momentum is everything during the regular-season environment. It changes games, and the ability to generate it centers on being adaptable to everything going on around you.
The Commanders should have leaned more on Croskey-Merritt. But after an indifferent opening to the campaign, their reservations proved too much to overlook when it came to putting the game away.
It's a sign of Croskey-Merritt's current standing within offensive coordinator David Blough's system.
He's still a useful weapon, but the Commanders are not giving him bell-cow duties. White is being tasked with a lot, but Austin Ekeler's lack of usage after an encouraging return in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts was equally bizarre.
All Croskey-Merritt can do is keep improving, keep performing well, and hope that the coaching staff starts seeing him differently.
This team should be drafting and developing talent. They should be willing to ride the waves that come with young players. Unfortunately, pressure is already building after a 1-3-1 start to the season, and it only increased after completely botching their final play sequence against the Giants.
That means head coach Dan Quinn needs sure things. He leans toward experience — he always has — and everyone else follows suit. Uncertain futures play a part, but the mistakes Croskey-Merritt made early in the campaign have led to this point.
Croskey-Merritt is working hard to shift his narrative. But looking at his snap usage compared to White's in Week 5, he still has a long way to go.
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