The Washington Commanders need a massive spark from somewhere. A season that promised the world has delivered very little, and drastic measures are already being taken in pursuit of turning the tide.
Dan Quinn is taking over defensive play-calling from Joe Whitt Jr., a move the coordinator saw coming after a disastrous outing against the Detroit Lions. And another quiet roster decision from the Commanders could alter the dynamic in one underperforming offensive area.
The Commanders elevated running back Chase Edmonds from the practice squad for their Week 11 contest against the Miami Dolphins. Although the dual-threat weapon hasn’t played a competitive NFL snap since 2023, his previous connection to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from their time together on the Arizona Cardinals raises intrigue considerably.
Commanders give Chase Edmonds one final chance to prove himself, and he must deliver
Edmonds was signed to the practice squad earlier this season. It went overlooked, but it provided the former Fordham standout with a route back into the league. He’s taken time to pick things up, but the Commanders must be suitably impressed with his progress to give him a shot in this one.
Expecting miracles from Edmonds would be unrealistic. He’s missed a lot of football, and there is just no telling what his role will be. But considering the Commanders are struggling to generate any positive momentum on the ground, especially without quarterback Jayden Daniels, they have nothing to lose by giving him an opportunity.
What this means for others remains to be seen. The Commanders started Chris Rodriguez Jr. against the Lions, but he’s dealing with an injury despite being cleared to play in Spain. Jeremy McNichols is a solid special-teams asset who has flashed during his limited involvement on the offensive rotation. Seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s meteoric early rise has tailed off dramatically, so Edmonds’ presence could be a way to take some of the heat off Washington’s first-year pro.
There is just no telling for sure, but fans won’t have to wait long to get confirmation about what the Commanders have planned for Edmonds. And if they want to end their concerning slump, Kingsbury has to get the ground game firing from the outset.
It’s not costing the Commanders anything to find out if Edmonds has something to offer. His elevation might be nothing more than a precautionary measure with Rodriguez playing hurt. At the same time, this could be a surprising energy boost that gives Washington a more balanced offensive attack.
Time will tell, but Edmonds’ elevation adds a fascinating dynamic for fans to monitor.
