Jacory Croskey-Merritt Being Miscast As Commanders Workhorse Back

In the midst of the Washington Commanders' disappointing 1-3 start to the 2026 season, there are several takeaways that have emerged, including a struggling secondary, injuries to the top two quarterbacks and a shuffling along the offensive line. However, one thing that has gone under the radar is the regression of running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt.

The former seventh round pick came on the scene last preseason, produced big runs and became the darling of coaches, fans, and media alike, and it translated to the field in 2025. He rushed for 805 yards and eight touchdowns - the most among all rookies - while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. 2026 has been a different story, however. Croskey-Merritt is averaging 2.8 yards per carry on 56 carries and has scored only one touchdown. Granted, his struggles aren't entirely his fault given the aforementioned injuries on the offensive line. However, the low yards per attempt is another. Still, new offensive coordinator David Blough’s lack of trust in him in the passing game, whether in pass blocking or catching the ball out of the backfield, remains a concern, and the team didn't sufficiently address it this past offseason.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., the former backup running back for the Commanders, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a restricted free agent to a two-year, $10 million deal this offseason. He was the perfect complementary back to Bill, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and catching 30 passes last season. He was arguably Washington’s best all-around back and is averaging 4.2 yards per carry for his new team.

The Commanders signed Rachaad White to a one-year contract, but time will tell whether he is a better fit for the offense than Rodriguez, especially coming off a shoulder injury. They also drafted Kaytron Allen out of Penn State in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, who was waived on Thursday after rushing for 41 yards on 12 carries on the young season to clear up a roster spot and a now crowded backfield. Washington bought back Austin Ekeler, who actually came off the couch and produced four carries for 29 yards and one catch for 11 yards on Sunday against the Colts.

All of those players have been more productive than Croskey-Merritt, who pulled his hamstring on Sunday and has been limited this week, making him questionable for Sunday’s game at the Giants. But the signs are clear: Bill is a good complementary piece to a running back rotation, not the three-down, all-season back the team thought it had when it stole him in the seventh round in last year's draft.

With the cap room, they could have signed the reigning Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, former Seattle Seahawks and current Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III, who was signed for three years, $45 million during the offseason to fill a hole that wasn’t apparent then but is apparent now on the offense.

All in all, Croskey-Merritt is a good story, coming out of nowhere to have a solid rookie season. Still, the organization may have projected him a little too high after his rookie season and didn't evaluate the running back room properly. He can still be productive in this offense, but he needs to find the right fit and shouldn't be relied on to carry the running back room.