Croskey-Merritt (groin) cleared for Week 1 vs. PHI

The Commanders’ starting running back is on track to play, but it would be nice to see him practice fully tomorrow. If he is unable to do so, he might end up sharing more touches than he normally would with receiving RB Rachaad White. Croskey-Merritt supposedly refined his passing game skill set this summer, potentially raising his fantasy-scoring ceiling. Stay tuned.

Getting in a limited session to begin the week puts Croskey-Merritt on track to start in Week 1 against the Eagles. The second-year running back has reportedly improved his passing game chops, but RB Rachaad White will likely be the team’s primary receiving back to begin the year. If Croskey-Merritt can siphon away receiving snaps, it will make him less reliant on positive game scripts. For now, if active, he is a borderline RB2/3.

He missed about a week with the ailment, and reporters discovered that the “lower body injury” was a groin injury. We wouldn’t be surprised if he were limited a bit over the next two weeks, but if he’s practicing he’s certainly likely to play in Week 1.

We reported that Croskey-Merritt was limited in Monday’s practice yesterday but didn’t have a specific injury. Now we have a vague injury area. By Wednesday, we may even know which leg it’s on. We’re not overly concerned about Croskey-Merritt’s Week 1 prospects just yet — he did participate a little in yesterday’s practice — but it’s something to monitor ahead of the opening slate.

According to Commanders beat writer Ben Standig, Croskey-Merritt reporters saw him “pull up at the end of a catch-and-run in Thursday’s practice.” The fact that he’s still working in a limited capacity suggests this isn’t anything to be too worried about at this time, but “Bill” is the latest of several Commanders players to already be dealing with injuries in camp. Washington has been without Rachaad White (hamstring) since the team’s joint practice with the Dolphins, leaving unproven rookies Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry, and veteran Craig Reynolds as the only healthy backs in camp.

Now we know why the Commanders’ receiving back has been absent at practice recently. White reportedly tweaked a hamstring during joint practices with the Dolphins last week. He worked out prior to Friday’s preseason game, but did not play. Garafolo adds that White has “excelled” in new OC David Blough’s offense during OTAs and training camp, though starting RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt has notably been praised for his pass-catching improvements recently.

ESPN’s John Keim expects to hear an update on White tomorrow morning. Backup RB Jeremy McNichols is dealing with a quad injury and RB Jerome Ford (hamstring) was recently placed on injured reserve. As things currently stand, starting RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, rookie RBs Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry, and veteran RB Craig Reynolds are the four healthy players. Croskey-Merritt’s reported passing game improvements have come at the right time. Allen played well on a sizable preseason Week 1 workload. He might be in line for RB2 duties if White were to miss time.

Writing in his Last Man Standig blog, Standig added that Bill has also improved in pass protection. Rachaad White was brought in to handle work on passing downs, but the Commanders only paid him $2 million on a one-year deal. JCM could easily eat into White’s role through the air if he rounds out his skill set. White currently goes ahead of JCM in Best Ball drafts. That ADP could easily flip with another round of Bill hype.

Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt was noticeably bigger this spring, per Keim, and Dan Quinn said they’d told the back he needed to add bulk and be a bigger factor in the passing game. Keim doesn’t list a strong No. 2 runner on the depth chart, but we’d expect Rachaad White to have first crack at the No. 2 duties. Bill probably belongs in the RB3/RB4 tier for the moment.

Whether Croskey-Merritt can participate in the Commanders’ three-day mandatory minicamp, from June 16-18, is unknown. That said, Standig believes RB coach Anthony Lynn’s “positivity is notable.” Lynn thinks the team can take Croskey-Merritt’s game “to another level and get him potentially in the lead role.” To do this, Croskey-Merritt must take on more responsibility in the passing game this summer. Lynn adds that the young back’s “hands are very good, his movement skills are very good, and there’s no reason why he couldn’t win routes.” The staff is happy with its new-look backfield, but Standing writes that RBs Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols and Jerome Ford “are not high-volume playmaking threats,” like “Bill” is, and rookie RB Allen is still getting up to speed. Once Croskey-Merritt arrives, he must prove that he can meaningfully contribute as a receiver and as a pass protector. Doing so would unlock a fantasy-friendly role.