Commanders lose Jacory Croskey-Merritt for 49ers game as running back room creates major concern for Jayden Daniels
Washington will be without its lead running back Monday night, while injury concerns for Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler could leave Jayden Daniels carrying an even bigger burden against San Francisco.
The Washington Commanders already had plenty working against them heading into Monday night’s matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Now they’re down their lead running back. Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced Saturday that RB1 Jacory Croskey-Merritt will not play against San Francisco because of a groin injury.
It was reported that Croskey-Merritt did not practice all week ahead of Dan Quinn’s official announcement that came along with the injury report
Washington went into this game as the underdog in nearly every way. Losing the guy at the top of the depth chart at running back makes an uphill climb that much steeper.
Washington’s running back depth is suddenly gone
The Commanders’ backfield was a talking point all offseason, mostly because of its volume. Washington had bodies. It had options. It had the kind of depth that was supposed to keep this exact scenario from becoming a crisis.
So much for that.
Let’s take a look at what’s left behind Croskey-Merritt. Rachaad White has been dealing with a shoulder issue. Austin Ekeler has been dealing a chest issue. That’s the “deep” running back room heading into a Monday night game against one of the toughest defenses in the NFC. What looked like a strength in August is looking sparse & in serious trouble in October.
Volume only matters if the volume is healthy. Right now, Washington has a lot of names and not a lot of certainty.
Jayden Daniels has to carry the offense in every sense
This is the part that matters most. Washington cannot afford to be one-dimensional against San Francisco. If the 49ers know the Commanders can’t run the football, they’ll pin their ears back, sit on the passing game, & make this a long night for everyone.
That means Jayden Daniels has to do more than sling it. He has to shoulder a strong majority of the rushing load too.
That isn’t a new concept for Daniels. His legs are a massive part of what makes this offense dangerous, & opposing defenses have to account for him on every snap. The difference is that Daniels running the ball as a weapon is one thing. Daniels running the ball because there’s nobody else to hand it to is something else entirely.
Is that a lot to ask? Absolutely. Is there another option? Not one that inspires a lot of confidence.
The bottom line for Monday night
The Commanders were already facing a stacked deck against San Francisco. Losing Croskey-Merritt again, with White & Ekeler both banged up, strips away the one area of the roster that was supposed to absorb injuries like this.
If Washington wants a real chance on Monday night, it’s going to come down to Daniels doing a little bit of everything. The run game isn’t coming to save him. He has to be the run game.
