Dan Quinn isn’t playing around when it comes to holding onto the football, and Washington Commanders running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt found that out the hard way.
Draft steal Croskey-Merritt has the twitch and cutback ability to thrive in this zone-running scheme, but fumbling threatens to derail his breakout. In the tight 24-22 Week 1 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, Croskey-Merritt put the ball on the turf late in the game. The turnover prompted head coach Dan Quinn to pivot immediately to rookie sixth-round pick Kaytron Alely.
Quinn openly confirmed the move was a direct response to the mistake, stressing that while Croskey-Merritt is a fantastic fit for the offense, ball security remains an absolute premium.
This isn’t a new issue for the second-year back. After putting the ball on the ground four times as a rookie in 2025, his margin for error was already razor-thin. When he hits the second and third levels of the defense, he presents a major tackling problem, but a dynamic skill set can only keep you on the field if the coaching staff trusts you in crunch time. If these fumbling issues persist, Croskey-Merritt’s spot in the backfield rotation is in genuine jeopardy.
The rushing attack was already searching for a spark against the Eagles, as veteran addition Rachaad White proved largely ineffective in his Commanders debut. White managed just 22 yards on 7 carries, a sluggish 3.1 yards per attempt that failed to take pressure off quarterback Jayden Daniels—now an established NFL veteran and no longer a rookie —who needs a reliable ground game to balance the attack. Even with Daronte Jones’ defensive unit battling to keep the game within two points, the offense couldn’t afford to give away possessions late in the fourth quarter.
Going forward, the running back room is a major storyline to track. Quinn’s willingness to bench a starter in crunch time for a rookie like Kaytron Allen sends a clear message to the entire locker room. Croskey-Merritt has the talent to be a difference-maker for Washington. Still, until he proves he can consistently secure the rock, his upside may be limited to watching from the sidelines.
