The NFL preseason kicked off last week with the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. For everyone else, the preseason begins this week. The Washington Commanders open the preseason on Friday against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
If there was one player to watch for the Commanders, who would be your pick?
Most Washington fans would say seventh-round rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Cameron Sheath of Pro Football Network agreed. In an article naming one player to watch for all 32 NFL teams this preseason, unsurprisingly, Sheath went with Croskey-Merritt, aka “Bill.”
Cornerback Trey Amos is a player worth watching this preseason and will likely start for the team in 2025. However, much of the Washington Commanders camp buzz centers around rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
The seventh-round pick has been lighting it up in Commanders camp, leaving many wondering if he will usurp Brian Robinson Jr. as the lead back. Croskey-Merritt’s seventh-round draft capital can be attributed to eligibility issues that saw him play just one game in 2024.
In that game, though, he turned 13 carries into 106 yards and a touchdown, showcasing his evident ability. The running back is currently a relative unknown, but could blow up over the preseason schedule.
We’ve profiled Croskey-Merritt numerous times since he was drafted in April. Washington’s coaching staff has continued to praise him, with head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury both saying they couldn’t wait to watch him in the preseason.
The preseason is now here. The Commanders don’t need to see Brian Robinson Jr. or Austin Ekeler in the preseason. That means Croskey-Merritt should get plenty of snaps, along with others, such as Demetric Felton, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols.
Bill is Washington’s most hyped rookie. If he had not been screwed by the NCAA last year, Croskey-Merritt probably would have gone much higher in the draft.