Did Commanders bench Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his fumble vs Eagles?
· Yahoo Sports
The Washington Commanders love running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, aka “Bill.” The second-year running back is clearly Washington’s top back. He spent the offseason adding nearly 10 pounds of muscle to handle a heavier workload in 2026.
In Sunday’s season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Croskey-Merritt carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. He did much of that damage in the first half, including scoring Washington’s first touchdown. Croskey-Merritt had some impressive runs against Philadelphia’s vaunted front.
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Bill didn’t get much help from his teammates in the first half. Quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense finally got going in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns before a failed two-point conversion with one minute remaining clinched the win for the Eagles.
However, Washington’s comeback to even be in a position to tie almost didn’t happen. With around four minutes remaining, Croskey-Merritt fumbled. After a wild scramble, right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. recovered the fumble. Crisis averted.
Unfortunately for Bill, that was his last play of the game. The Commanders went with rookie Kaytron Allen the rest of the way.
Ball security was a bit of an issue for Croskey-Merritt in his rookie season, when he fumbled four times.
Head coach Dan Quinn was asked about the running game and Croskey-Merritt's fumble.
“Yeah, I think the ball security, that’s definitely the premium for us," Quinn said.
“You’ve heard me talk about it a lot. I love kind of the twitch that you see with Bill. You know, when we can get him onto the second and the third level, that presents a real problem from a tackling standpoint. I think we saw that almost on the opening play, where there’s a chance to go onto a big one. He’s decisive in his cuts. I think that’s been a stronger part of his game as it’s going. He’s a stronger person right now, just from the offseason and development, so you’re seeing those things. I think the zone game suits him because he’s got the cutback ability. So, I think just the more reps he gets in it, the more [he’s] got time, he’s seeing the blocks, the offensive line knowing where he is. Those are things that just- we need time on task, but I’m pleased with what we’ve seen so far.”
Everything Quinn said was true. Bill’s skill set is something no one else on the roster offers. He’s explosive, and he’s much stronger than anyone gives him credit for. He’s the perfect back for Washington’s zone blocking. However, did you see what he said first? Everything else is great. But none of it matters if you can’t hang onto the football.
Quinn was asked a follow-up question about whether Allen entering the game at that time was part of the plan or a result of Croskey-Merritt’s fumble. “It was both,” he responded.
Earlier this week, Quinn sent a message to cornerback Mike Sainristil about his struggles in the opener. While his message to Croskey-Merritt may not have been as strong, you can bet it got Bill’s full attention.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Did Commanders bench Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his fumble vs Eagles?