If the Washington Commanders wanted to maintain the high standards they set for themselves during Dan Quinn's first season, it wasn't just the franchise cornerstones or established veterans that needed to contribute. This had to be a collective effort from everyone.
From those buried on the roster to the players being called up from the practice squad, they had to be ready. This bears more significance for the Commanders, who are dealing with some decimating injury problems that have dented their hopes of a strong start.
Every team deals with injuries. Almost no team is dealing with as many as the Commanders currently. That's forced some young players to grow up quicker than expected, while veteran depth pieces are also being tasked with a lot more than fans initially envisaged.
It's been a rollercoaster first quarter of the campaign. The Commanders have won both their home games, but they've come unstuck convincingly on the road. Washington has a brutal stretch upcoming, so nothing but improved execution and more imposing starts will do to keep their postseason dreams alive.
However, there have been a few shining lights amid the chaos. On this subject, here are five surprise Commanders standouts that nobody saw coming at the quarter-season checkpoint.
Surprise Commanders standouts nobody saw coming through four games
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB
There was a significant amount of hype around rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt heading into the season. Fans took his rags-to-riches story to their hearts from the moment he got into the building, and his immediate surge into a prominent rotational role was confirmed when the Washington Commanders traded starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers.
Flashing in the summer and the preseason is one thing. Doing it in the regular-season pressure cooker is an entirely different challenge. The Commanders have taken things cautiously with Croskey-Merritt, but his purposeful running style and ability to see the field defy his seventh-round billing.
There is aggression and physicality to Croskey-Merritt's approach that's hard not to love. Washington isn't putting too much on his plate right now, mainly due to his frailties in pass protection. But with 172 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a 5.9 yards per carry average through four weeks, his early efforts represent a solid foundation from which to build.
According to Pro Football Focus, Croskey-Merritt is the highest-graded rookie running back and the sixth-best overall first-year player through four games in 2025. If the same trend continues, the No. 245 overall pick will cement his status as the steal of this year's draft.