Hogs Haven
Commanders.com
Through two weeks, Washington’s offensive line allowed the Green Bay Packers 33 pressures, six sacks and 23 quarterback hits on Jayden Daniels. Those statistics, combined with the loss of tight end John Bates to a groin injury, pushed the Commanders to shake up the offensive line for Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders to ensure a cleaner pocket.
Left guard Chris Paul got the news he won the competition and would be starting at left guard in Washington’s Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders “earlier to mid-week.” Although the 2022 seventh-round draft pick hadn’t started a game since Week 15 of the 2023 season, he remained confident in his skills and knew his time would come with continued work.
Paul contributed immensely to the offensive line’s success against the Raiders, which in turn led Washington to a 41-24 victory. He was the second-highest graded offensive linemen for Washington, finishing with an overall PFF grade of 86.0 behind All-Pro left tackle Laremy Tunsil (88.0). Over the course of 26 pass-blocking snaps, he didn’t allow a single sack, pressure, quarterback hit, or hurry.
Paul played every snap in the Commanders’ eventual 34-27 loss to the Falcons…with two pressures and two sacks allowed on Mariota for an overall grade of 73.2. As long as Paul continues to perform, he will continue to win the left guard position competition and is poised to make the start at SoFi Stadium for the team’s ensuing matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Riggo’s Rag
The Commanders entered the preseason with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler set to be a formidable 1-2 punch in the offensive backfield. Those plans quickly changed when the former was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick, while the latter suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers.
Seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who was the darling of the Commanders’ offseason, was expected to step into the RB1 role as a result. Instead, it’s been a committee featuring him, Jeremy McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez Jr.
The former Kentucky star had his best performance of the season to date in Week 4, accumulating 59 rushing yards on seven carries. This was highlighted by a 48-yard scamper, showcasing the big-play ability he brings to the offense.
Rodriguez had become a forgotten man in Washington following Croskey-Merritt’s emergence and found himself squarely on the roster bubble. Had it not been for the Robinson trade, he may very well have been the odd man out. But he turned heads during a strong preseason, leading the team with 118 rushing yards on only 17 carries. More importantly, this momentum has carried over into the regular season.
The more opportunities Rodriguez gets, the more he should continue to solidify his role. He’s quickly gone from...
