Commanders OC explains how Jacory Croskey-Merritt can secure more consistent workload

Mike Moraitis

Commanders OC explains how Jacory Croskey-Merritt can secure more consistent workload image

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

After so much hype throughout the offseason, Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt's inconsistent workload has been a bit confusing.

Bill tallied 10 carries in Week 1, but then saw just 19 over the next three games. Then, Croskey-Merritt saw a season-high 16 touches in Week 5, which he turned into a career-high 150 scrimmage yards that included 111 yards on the ground.

There has been zero question about which Commanders back has the most upside, yet that hasn't translated into a consistent, lead-back-type role for JCM, even in the wake of Austin Ekeler's season-ending injury.

Perhaps Week 5 is a sign of things to come, but Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has indirectly pumped the brakes on that idea a bit.

During the week leading up to Monday's game against the Chicago Bears, Kingsbury noted Croskey-Merritt has a "ways to go" in his development when it comes to "pass pro, pass game, any sort of lead blocks," according to ESPN's John Keim.

"He has to keep working to become a complete back but since day one when he touches the ball he does good things with it," Kingsbury added.

Croskey-Merritt has yet to play more than 47.5% of the snaps in a game this season, and that percentage came last week.

It's pretty clear that the Commanders don't fully trust JCM in all the areas needed to be an every-down back, which will only hold him back from playing more.

That said, Croskey-Merritt has been hard at work in practice trying to improve in the areas Kingsbury mentioned, so it might not be long before he gets better and starts getting the consistent workload his talent deserves.

More NFL News

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.