Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt playing today? Full injury update for Commanders RB

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 6:00 AM ET

The Washington Commanders are currently dealing with significant injury concerns. Head coach Dan Quinn navigated them effectively in Week 3, but doing it on the road against the Atlanta Falcons will be equally, if not more, difficult.

Superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't being risked with a knee sprain for the second straight week. Blocking tight end John Bates and wide receiver Noah Brown didn't practice and were unsurprisingly ruled out. Standout special teams ace Percy Butler was downgraded to out before making the trip to Atlanta. And second-team All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin will also be absent as he deals with a quad complication.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is another whose status hung in the balance this week. The seventh-round rookie running back experienced soreness in his knee during Washington's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Commanders were extra careful, holding him out of the first two days of practice this week before getting him involved on Friday.

Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt is expected to play in Week 4

Quinn seemed confident that Croskey-Merritt would be able to suit up at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the Commanders officially listed him as questionable for the clash. However, a late-night update from one respected insider suggests the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft will take his place in the lineup.

According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, the Commanders are expecting Croskey-Merritt to play. That'll be a huge boost, especially considering that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is expected to lean heavily on his running back committee without Daniels, McLaurin, and Brown available.

#Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who they call Bill, is expected to play today, sources say. He’s questionable with a knee injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2025

The backfield trio of Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. looked more than capable of shouldering the load last time out. Washington gashed the Raiders for 201 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. The Carolina Panthers managed 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Atlanta last weekend, so the chance for another profitable afternoon at the office is there for all to see.

Croskey-Merritt might have his snaps limited to avoid the risk of further issues. The Commanders don't need any more long-term ailments, so this remains a wait-and-see scenario until further notice. At the same time, getting the first-year pro involved can only be a good thing.

It's been a whirlwind rise to prominence for Croskey-Merritt. And it seems as if a knee problem has failed to halt his ever-increasing momentum.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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