The Washington Commanders’ offense was way down the list of problems during their beatdown by the Detroit Lions. They had absolutely no chance of keeping things close, thanks in no small part to the team’s defensive ineptitude. But some shining lights are emerging from the almost constant doom and gloom.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who is already strongly linked to head coaching vacancies, is trying to make the most of what he has. It’s far from a full-strength unit, but the play-caller is doing his best. And he’s getting a tune out of those being tasked with extra responsibilities.
There was one interesting dynamic that went relatively overlooked in Week 10. The Commanders started Chris Rodriguez Jr. as the starting running back over Jacory Croskey-Merritt. He only got six carries during the contest, but he suffered a shoulder issue early on. With the game out of sight, Washington erred on the side of caution.
Kliff Kingsbury is figuring out what Commanders fans already knew about Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Croskey-Merritt picked up the slack but was once again largely inefficient, gaining just 2.7 yards per carry. The ground game just isn’t clicking without Jayden Daniels under center, but that didn’t stop Kingsbury from signaling out Rodriguez for special praise heading into this weekend’s international contest against the Miami Dolphins.
Kingsbury highlighted Rodriguez’s professionalism. He credited his ability to step in at a moment’s notice to deliver the goods, which earned him immense respect among his teammates. This is also why Commanders fans have been clamoring for the 2023 sixth-round selection to get more touches, so it’s not exactly breaking news from their perspective.
Kingsbury said Chris Rodriguez’s consistent play has stood out to him. He’s going to maximize his opportunities, and his teammates respect that
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) November 13, 2025
Rodriguez has only had 45 carries this season. That’s not enough to generate any sustainable rhythm, so Kingsbury’s comments could indicate that more carries might be on the way as the lead-back moving forward. Croskey-Merritt won’t become a non-factor, but his meteoric rise has tailed off dramatically, so taking something off his plate might be the best thing for his development right now.
This is Rodriguez’s third season in the league. It’s been a rollercoaster, but he’s improving. And with him being a restricted free agent, it will be relatively simple for the Commanders to keep him around. Giving him an extended run to see if his flashes can become something more would be prudent, because he’s never had a prolonged run in the team as yet.
That’s not an indictment of Croskey-Merritt. But the Commanders have to try something different, and few would argue that Rodriguez hasn’t earned his stripes.
Kingsbury believes, and so does the locker room. However, what comes next is down to Rodriguez.
