The Commanders could feature one trending player more to help fix a struggling unit moving forward

The offense needs a boost from this player, who has been a hot topic this week.

Josh Taylor — Washington Commanders News Writer
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The Washington Commanders are hosting the Detroit Lions and looking to jumpstart both sides of the ball after a 3-6 start to the season.

The offense has struggled with injuries adding up, and inconsistencies in the passing and running game, and the Commanders need to make changes moving forward. The run game was a top-3 unit to start the season, but it’s gotten stale over the last few weeks, which kills the passing game.

One player has been talked about a lot this week, who can get more playing time to give the running game a boost.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. could have an increased role

Running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. had a season-high 12 carries against the Seattle Seahawks last week, and that could be just a preview of what’s to come this week. He was also the leading rusher last week and earned the right to be a team captain this week against the Lions.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury knows the running game has struggled and needs to find its juice back this week.

“Yeah, I think it’s a combination of getting behind early where you abandon it at some point,” Kingsbury said. You know, around the third quarter, you’re trying to catch up, which hasn’t helped. And then, just trying to find the right matchups, the right personnel groupings, different things to take advantage of maximize your personnel. We’ve got to do a good job of that. I feel like the guys that we’re asking to step up and play have gotten a better feel for the offense at this point and should be able to start making some strides that’ll help us, you know, not only in the run game in the pass game as well.”

Chris Rodriguez Jr. has proven to make big plays

Rodriguez Jr. always makes the most of his opportunities and averages 4.7 yards per rush. The explosive plays have been missing lately, and Rodriguez Jr. is much more than just a short-yardage running back.

“Yeah, I think all of us are pressing a little bit,” Kingsbury added. “You definitely feel that, you know. We’ve got to take what’s blocked. I thought that’s one thing [RB Chris] C-Rod [Rodriguez Jr.] did a really nice job when he came in. We got to take what’s blocked and then the big plays will come, but I think as an entire offense we’re pressing and we’ve got to just make the routine plays and allow those big plays to happen. . .You go through flows of the season, and different guys kind of are called
upon to do different things, and every time we’ve asked C-Rod to step up, he’s played at a high level.”

I expect Rodriguez Jr. to be the leading rusher again this week against the Lions, in a game where the Commanders have to lean on running the ball and grinding the clock away as much as possible, with the defense struggling as much as it is.

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