Washington Commanders Running Back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Questionable For Week 17 Game
Nothing ruins a holiday morning quite like a last-minute notification on the injury report. Just as Washington Commanders fans were settling in to see if their squad could play spoiler against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, the team dropped a lump of coal in the stocking.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., the running back who has been quietly carving out a role for himself in this offense, was a late addition to the injury report on Thursday morning. The designation? An illness.
A Christmas Morning Curveball For Rodriguez Jr.
In the NFL, timing is everything, and this timing couldn’t be worse. Being added to the injury report less than four hours before kickoff is rarely a good sign for a player’s availability. While it’s a relief that Rodriguez Jr. isn’t dealing with a structural issue like a knee or an ankle, an illness on game day is a logistical nightmare.
You have to wonder about the energy levels. Even if he suits up, is he going to have the legs to push a pile against a motivated Dallas defense? The team listed him as questionable, leaving the coaching staff and fans in a “wait-and-see” limbo until the official inactive list drops 90 minutes before kickoff.
Why This Setback Stings For Rodriguez Jr.
This isn’t just about missing a game; it’s about missing a massive opportunity. At 4-11, the Commanders aren’t playing for a Lombardi Trophy right now; they are playing for jobs. They are playing for pride. And frankly, nobody has been seizing that opportunity quite like Rodriguez Jr. has in recent weeks.
Since Austin Ekeler went down with that brutal season-ending Achilles injury, the door swung wide open for the 26-year-old. And he didn’t just walk through it; he ran through it. Over his last 12 appearances, he’s set career highs across the board—96 attempts, 435 yards, and five trips to the end zone.
Just last week against the Eagles, he looked like a man possessed, matching his season-best with 15 carries and punching in a touchdown. He was finding a rhythm. He was proving he could handle the bell-cow workload. To have that momentum potentially halted by a stomach bug or the flu on national television is a gut punch for a player looking to cement his status on the roster for next year.
Next Man Up vs. The Cowboys
If Rodriguez Jr. can’t go, the Commanders are going to have to scramble. The depth chart isn’t exactly overflowing with veterans right now. The workload would likely fall heavily on the shoulders of rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
While Croskey-Merritt has led the team in rushing categories and sits ahead on the depth chart, Washington clearly wanted to see a two-headed monster develop to close out the season. Losing Rodriguez Jr. makes the offense one-dimensional and puts a lot of pressure on a rookie to carry the load against a fierce rivalry opponent.
We will know more when the inactives are released, but for now, Washington is holding its breath, hoping their rising star back can shake off the bug and suit up for the holidays.
