Is there cause for concern with Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt?
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has become a focal point of concern after posting a dismal 3.9-yard average per carry over his first four games this season. His production has plummeted further in the last two contests, where he managed less than two yards per attempt, including a 1.9-yard average in a Week 4 loss to Seattle—where Rachaad White led with 4.4 yards per carry.
The struggles come despite Croskey-Merritt’s reputation as a player whose explosiveness and burst into the second level should align well with offensive coordinator David Blough’s outside-zone-heavy rushing scheme, a system that has otherwise failed to generate consistent efficiency. With Austin Ekeler now on the roster and White’s absence forcing Croskey-Merritt into a larger role, the Commanders face a critical decision: whether to adjust their approach or risk further stagnation in a run-heavy offense that has yet to show signs of improvement beyond mobile quarterback contributions.
The Commanders enter Week 5 against the New York Giants with a pivotal opportunity to reassess their backfield strategy. Croskey-Merritt’s inability to replicate last season’s flashes of decisiveness and power—outside of a single play negated by penalty—has raised questions about whether his role should be expanded or if the system itself is the root of the issue.
Advanced metrics and historical comparisons to players like LaDainian Tomlinson underscore the disconnect between expectation and execution, leaving fans and analysts to debate whether Croskey-Merritt’s struggles are a temporary hurdle or a deeper systemic flaw in Washington’s ground game.
