The collision that rocked Commanders training camp
Rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt and rising safety Tyler Owens put on the pads, brought the heat and caught Dan Quinn’s attention
ASHBURN, Va. – Jacory Croskey-Merritt still remembered how to find the running lane — and punish any defender foolish enough to meet him in it.
“Usually, I want to make that third defender miss,” the Commanders’ rookie running back said. “But if I have to get dirty…”
The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder burst through what head coach Dan Quinn aptly described as a “small” hole along the line of scrimmage. Multiple defenders stood between Croskey-Merritt and open space. First came the vision. Then the vertical acceleration. Then a pair of filthy cuts that reminded everyone why the 245th pick in April’s draft is tracking like a roster lock.
“I loved the cut,” Quinn said. “There’s actually two of them, one to the left, and one to the right.”
One more defender to beat, and Croskey-Merritt would flash the big-play potential on the ground that Washington rarely generated during its run to the NFC Championship from anyone other than electric quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Croskey-Merritt patiently waited 11 months for that moment. After transferring to Arizona from New Mexico, a bizarre NCAA ruling deemed him ineligible last season after only one game.
“I haven't played in a while, but it felt great,” said Croskey-Merritt, who speaks with an easy smile and thick southern twang. “I haven't had pads on in a minute.”
Standing in his path: hulking second-year safety Tyler Owens. The undrafted free agent made the 2024 roster on raw athleticism and a see-ball-hit-ball approach. After finally catching his breath this offseason following a cycle of college football, draft prep and entering the NFL, the 6-foot-2 Owens came back with extra edge and more honed instincts. In camp, he developed a not-so-quiet annoyance at how much the offense chirped in non-padded sessions.
“They were bragging too much when we weren’t able to get our hands on people for real,” Owens said. “The first day of real football, they get to feel us. And I want to make sure they feel something.”
They did.
The subsequent collision produced a loud THWACK that cut through the thick humidity engulfing the fields behind the team facility. On a brutal day weather-wise, this was the moment that brought the heat.
“You picked a good one,” Quinn said when asked for his assessment of the play.
The head coach made a point of highlighting the play in the post-practice team meeting. It wasn’t just the contact — it was the footwork from Croskey-Merritt, who prefers to go by “Bill,” a nickname from childhood when friends said his haircut resembled the Nickelodeon cartoon character Little Bill.
Even with a full year away from real football, the muscle memory kicked in. At New Mexico — after four seasons at Alabama State — Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. One-cut and go was the vibe.
“That’s when I found my flow,” he said. “This is what I like to perfect when I’m on the field.”
Now 24, he’s an older rookie who ran a notable 4.45-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Croskey-Merritt’s success isn’t just speed and power — it’s how he strings it together.
“He’s light on his feet,” Owens said.
Still, Quinn wanted more.
“As you get to the next (defender), can you have a plan for the middle-field safety?” Quinn said. “That’s the lesson. Just because I got through the hole doesn’t mean it’s ending. Can I now make another player miss?”
Don’t get it twisted — Quinn’s not nitpicking. Earlier in camp, he raved about the “violence” in Croskey-Merritt’s cuts and how quickly “he can get his shoulders square and get downhill.”
Enter Owens. The freaky athlete who posted the top broad jump at the NFL Combine and hit 21.5 MPH at the East-West Shrine Bowl doesn’t exactly lack confidence.
“I don’t give a f--- who I’m lining up against,” Owens said. “It could be T.O., Terrell Owens (note - no relation). It could be (Commanders’ receivers) Deebo (Samuel) or Terry McLaurin.”
That bravado only works if you back it up. Quinn said Owens, who is aiming for a defensive role after primarily playing on special teams as a rookie, did just that with a “hard tackle in the middle of the field. … That’s why you do it with pads.”
There’s no actual tackling allowed in camp per league rules. Regardless, Owens came from Croskey-Merritt’s blindside, lined up a hit, and attacked.
“If he cuts into me, it’s just going to be a head-up tackle,” Owens said. “If you cut away, I’m going to step into him. Whatever the direction, I just want to bring that heat.”
Croskey-Merritt delivered some back.
“I mean, he did give me a little thud back,” Owens admitted. “He’s been pretty impressive.”
Croskey-Merritt maintained his balance and kept pushing forward. He credits the finish to muscle memory and hours of training on “the small things.”
“I feel like that’s where that comes from.”
At this pace, Croskey-Merritt isn’t just making the team. He might carve out a place in the rotation — and push Brian Robinson Jr. for carries sooner than later. That’s a long way from now, of course. Right now, Bill is soaking in the moment.
“I’m just happy to be able to do what I love,” he said.
Croskey-Merritt's story is a fantastic one - dropping to 25th (and last) RB selected in April, due in part to lack of opportunity to display his wears last season, and anxious to demonstrate his big-play ground potential, but this situation raises additional questions:
- Haven't heard that Croskey-Merritt is getting reps as a kick-off returner; can he help in other ways on special teams, like Ekeler and McNichols do, and if so in what roles or is that not even in the cards for Croskey-Merritt because he's "on pace for" BRob's role?
- How does BRob look in camp? Is he flashing big-play potential too? Is the coaching staff trying to light a fire under BRob to see how he reacts?
- How is Croskey-Merritt as a receiver? How is Croskey-Merritt as a blocker? In these two areas, how does Croskey-Merritt compare to BRob?
- Every year there are newcomers who "flash" in training camp but fizzle or get few opportunities when the lights shine brightest. Remember the likes of Jaret Patterson, Trey Williams and Steven Sims Jr.? Sometimes, the speed, physicality or mental elements catch up? Training camp invites all top athletes, but what separates those who make it and those who don't, are the ones who achieve a level of consistency in top performance. Why are people so bullish on Croskey-Merritt ALREADY in this regard? Why is everyone so sure already he doesn't have the potential to be more of a "training camp darling"?
It's Bill’s one big shining moment so far. Now he’s got eyes on him, so it's up to him to capitalize on that. And like Tim and Ray said, he's got a great story and more than just a little RB juice to help it along.
I heard someone compare his situation to another late-round RB who broke out, KC’s Isiah Pacheco (#251 in the ‘22 draft). Tell ya what, if the Comms got themselves a Pacheco I'll take my chances with that and go from there!