The Washington Commanders’ backfield is shaping up to be one of the most intense roster battles of the summer. With the preseason officially underway following Friday’s 20-7 exhibition victory over the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium, the coaching staff is getting a clearer picture of who deserves the ball. The young talent’s performance has completely shifted the dynamic of the running back room, putting the veterans on notice and forcing the front office to make some incredibly difficult decisions before cutdown day.
The Established Duo at the Top
Right now, the top of the depth chart is essentially locked in. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White have secured their spots as the primary ball carriers. Croskey-Merritt proved exceptional during his rookie campaign, and White offers high-level pass-catching ability. With their statuses cemented as the main offensive engines, the coaching staff opted to rest both of them during Friday’s preseason opener.
Rookies Steal the Show on Friday
With the starters wearing baseball caps on the sideline, the spotlight shifted directly onto the young guns. Undrafted rookie Robert Henry Jr. and sixth-round draft pick Kaytron Allen did not disappoint. Taking full advantage of the vacated reps against the Dolphins, the duo immediately stiffened the competition for the remaining depth chart spots and proved they are primed to contribute right now.
Henry was an absolute workhorse when his number was called on Friday night. Taking on a heavy workload, Henry carried the ball 12 times for 75 yards, averaging a highly efficient 6.3 yards per attempt. He proved he isn’t afraid of running between the tackles at the professional level, grinding out tough yards and exploding for a 22-yard touchdown run that gave Washington their first lead of the game. Beyond his offensive production, Henry continued to show his versatility by handling special teams duties, ripping off an impressive 30-yard kickoff return against Miami. That dual-threat ability is a highly coveted trait for bubble players and could be the deciding factor that gets him onto the final 53-man roster.
Meanwhile, Allen brought the exact physical, downhill running style that made him the all-time leading rusher at Penn State. The rookie runner looked entirely unfazed by the speed of the professional game against Miami’s defense. He racked up a team-high 23 carries, grinding out 85 rushing yards and powering in for a one-yard touchdown right before halftime to extend the Commanders’ lead. Their combined 160 rushing yards and two scores became the absolute focal point of the offense.
The Injury Bug and the Veterans’ Fight
The rapid rise of the rookies comes at a particularly difficult time for Jeremy McNichols. The veteran back was forced to miss Friday’s exhibition opener due to a quad injury. In an incredibly crowded positional room, missing valuable game reps while the first-year players thrive is a dangerous place to be. McNichols now finds himself playing catch-up, desperately needing to get healthy and back onto the practice field to fend off the surging rookies.
Adding even more congestion to the Commanders running back room is offseason acquisition Jerome Ford. Ford brings valuable NFL experience and a versatile skill set, but the math is getting extremely tight. With Croskey-Merritt and White firmly entrenched at the top, and Allen and Henry maximizing every single preseason opportunity they receive, Ford and McNichols are fighting for their professional lives. The next few weeks of practice and preseason action will be an absolute dogfight to see who survives the final roster trims.
