Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was named the NFL’s Rookie of the Week on Thursday after rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown in his pro debut.
The Arizona product has been one of the NFL’s breakout stories since the Commanders drafted him in the seventh round of this year’s draft. He quickly ascended the depth chart this summer and led Washington in rushing yards on Sunday.
His first taste of NFL action, which saw the Commanders beat the New York Giants 21-6, met all of Croskey-Merritt’s expectations.
“Getting a touchdown and winning, it just made it 10 times better,” he said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t want to do it with any other group of guys.”
Croskey-Merritt shares the backfield with star quarterback Jayden Daniels, who won the Rookie of the Week award a record 11 times last season.
Washington’s signal-caller pumped up the crowd as Croskey-Merritt celebrated his first NFL score on Sunday.
“He runs hard and he’s willing to learn, and being a young guy in this league and where he was drafted, where he was drafted at, to make the 53 and to play a significant amount of snaps, it is big for him,” Daniels said Tuesday. “I’m just excited for him to keep growing and keep learning.”
Croskey-Merritt was the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 75 yards and a touchdown in his debut after being drafted outside of the first 200 picks.
The Commanders return to action on Thursday night against the Packers in Green Bay.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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