Croskey-Merritt Is Out Monday, and Washington's Backfield Depth Gets Its First Real Test

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is listed out for Monday's game against San Francisco, a groin injury removing the team's most productive rusher from a matchup Washington can ill afford to approach short-handed. He carried the ground game all season — 805 yards and eight touchdowns over 17 games — and his absence leaves a real gap in an offense that has leaned on him as its most reliable non-quarterback weapon.

The depth chart slides Rachaad White and Devin Neal into the lead roles, with Jeremy McNichols available as well. McNichols has been a capable complementary piece — he contributed 221 rushing yards and caught passes out of the backfield consistently — but none of these options have been asked to carry a full game's workload. That's the test Monday presents.

The timing is awkward in another way. San Francisco is the team that took Deebo Samuel in the offseason, so Washington will see a familiar face on the other sideline while missing its own key offensive piece. The Commanders don't have much margin for subtraction at this point in the season. One more name moving to the out column is one more thing Daniels has to compensate for with his arm.