- The Commanders use three third backs: Jacory Croskey-Merritt went on injured reserve earlier, leading Washington to rely on three running backs who have served as the team’s third-down backs the past three seasons.
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Washington Commanders @ San Francisco 49ers
Jacory Croskey-Merritt lands in the damaged reserve: Washington’s leading rusher will miss at least four games with a groin injury.
Washington has relied on Croskey-Merritt as its early-down back and Rachaad White as its receiving back this season, with Austin Ekeler returning to the mix without White’s time. Ekeler entered this game less than 100% healthy after being limited in practice all week with a chest injury. The Commanders also activated Jeremy McNichols from injured reserve earlier, eliminating the need to elevate Craig Reynolds from the practice squad, as they did earlier in the season. That leaves Washington with an interesting combination of three running backs who have each served as the team’s third-down back at different points over the past three seasons.
White handled the bulk of the work tonight, with Ekeler rotating occasionally and McNichols not seeing his first offensive snaps until the third quarter. While White dominated the snaps, it’s worth noting that Washington lost the time-of-possession battle, giving White some extended rest without needing another back to anchor him. Ekeler’s lingering chest injury may have also contributed to the lopsided work.
White can generally be considered a fantasy starter for the next three games based on his dominant share of backfield snaps, although there’s no guarantee the Commanders will keep this rotation moving forward.
Commanders organize without Terry McLaurin: The Commanders briefly fixed their wide receiver room before another injury forced them to adjust.
Washington will be without McLaurin (hamstring) in Week 4 and Stefon Diggs (hamstring) in Week 5. Both players, along with Treylon Burks (shoulder), have been limited in practice at times this past week. While Jaylin Lane remains out for the season, this is the healthiest Washington wide receiver room has seen in weeks.
Washington opened with McLaurin as its lead receiver, Burks joined him in 12 personnel and Diggs and Antonio Williams in 11 personnel. That alignment lasted just two drives before McLaurin left with a knee injury. He was taken to the locker room with an air cast on his leg and was quickly released, indicating the injury could be serious.
Washington moved to a heavy rotation of players in the 12 and 13 man, while Burks, Williams and Diggs were the main receivers in the 11 man. Dyami Brown rotated occasionally, while Luke McCaffrey saw his first offensive snaps of the season.
Burks was injured in the final two minutes as he attempted the game-winner. He wasn’t available for Washington’s final two-minute drive, when Brown, Williams and Diggs served as the three receivers. Burks would be a solid waiver-wire target going forward, but only if McLaurin’s injury is as serious as it is and Burks’ own injury isn’t as serious.
Chig Okonkwo has good participation rates on the route: Okonkwo almost always runs a route whenever the Commanders call a pass play.
Okonkwo was a popular sleeper tight end this offseason after the Commanders acquired him from the Tennessee Titans. He got off to a strong start in Week 1 in terms of playing time before suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out of Weeks 2 and 3. He was then relieved again in Week 4.
Last week, his playing time increased to 71% of snaps. He was almost always the tight end on the field in 11 man and played 91% of the snaps in 13 man, but rarely on the field in 12 man. This week, he’s rotated occasionally through 13 personnel, which isn’t a concern since most are run plays. He also stayed on the field for most games in the 12 man. As a result, he ranked among the league leaders in route involvement among tight ends this week, along with Brock Bowers, Isaiah Likely, Trey McBride and George Kittle.
Okonkwo caught seven passes for 69 yards, leading the team in receiving yards. The Commanders have a bye week next week, but Okonkwo would be a strong option for anyone looking for a tight end to potentially start for their fantasy team later in the season.
The 49ers are adjusting without all of their top receivers: Deebo Samuel Sr. was inactive for this game, as Mike Evans left before halftime.
San Francisco has used nine wide receivers this season. De’Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson went on injured reserve, while KhaDarel Hodge was released with an injury. Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk started the season on injured reserve, and Samuel missed practice all week with a hamstring injury before being reinstated on Saturday.
That leaves Evans, Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks as available receivers on the 53-man roster, with Malik Turner elevated from the practice squad. Evans didn’t practice all week with rib and Achilles injuries and is questionable, but he was active.
San Francisco used a straightforward wide receiver rotation, with Evans as the X receiver, Watkins and Z and Cowing joining them in 11 personnel, often in the slot. Cooks backed Evans, while Turner backed Watkins. The 49ers usually keep their X receivers on the field in 22 personnel. Evans played 25 of the first 38 snaps before heading to the locker room before halftime because his Achilles injury was bothering him. He was ruled out shortly after halftime, but not before catching three passes for 94 yards.
Cooks took over as the X receiver following Evans’ departure. San Francisco faces the Atlanta Falcons next week, a favorable matchup for wide receivers, before heading into its bye week. If the 49ers decide to sit Evans next week to give him more time to recover, Cook would be the best waiver-wire pickup from this group, as he’s in the strongest position to produce.
Miscellaneous Notes
- With wide receiver injuries, San Francisco ran five plays with Kaelon Black and Christian McCaffrey on the field, with McCaffrey lined up at wide receiver. The 49ers did not use this personnel group at any point in the first five weeks.
- San Francisco running back Kyle Juszczyk is back in the lineup after missing last week’s game with a knee injury. He was limited in practice Thursday before being upgraded to a full participant Friday.
- 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk returned to practice from injured reserve on Thursday. He was limited in practice with a calf injury and was listed as questionable, but he remains on injured reserve.
- Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota missed practice all week with a knee injury and was ruled out Saturday, marking his second straight absence.
Table Note
• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, such as offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three statistics do not include these plays.
• Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely difference is a clear thrown-away pass, where the NFL can give the target to the closest receiver, while this data does not.
• Carries are only in design plays. Quarterback scrambles do not count toward the total number of carries in the game.