The Washington Commanders are already facing a major setback as they head into the new season, with multiple running back injuries depleting their backfield.
The Commanders have already lost Jerome Ford to a severe hamstring injury that will keep him out for the season. Ford, who had signed with the Commanders in the offseason from the Cleveland Browns, was injured during last week's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. He had gained 813 rushing yards in 2023 and averaged 5.4 yards per carry on his 104 rushing attempts this season.
The team is also dealing with a hamstring injury to Rachaad White, who has been ruled out for Saturday's preseason game against the Lions. White, another free agent signing, had injured his hamstring during the scrimmage against the Dolphins two days earlier and missed the preseason game last week.
The situation is further complicated by Jeremy McNichols' quadriceps injury, which has already caused him to miss a couple of weeks. McNichols had excelled in the 2024 and 2025 training camps, winning the final running back spot due to his play on coverage teams and his ability and willingness in pass protection.
In an attempt to address the shortage, the Commanders signed Craig Reynolds, who was with the Patriots in 2025 after being released by the Lions. Reynolds got his start in 2019 with the Washington Redskins, signing as an undrafted free agent and being released at the end of August before being brought back to the practice squad.
It's clear that the Commanders will need to be careful with their running back group as they head into the season. With multiple injuries, they will need to rely on their remaining players to step up and fill the void left by Ford and White.
The Commanders will have the opportunity to give as many carries as they can to Reynolds on Saturday, with both Kaytron Allen and Robert Henry Jr. expected to receive plenty of the workload in Saturday's game in Detroit. The team still has a scrimmage and a preseason game against the Ravens next week, which will provide them with more opportunities to evaluate their running back situation.
The Commanders' backfield injuries are a significant concern as they head into the new season. With a depleted group of running backs, they will need to be creative in their approach to the game. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the team's running back situation, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the challenges ahead.
Source: Yahoo Sports