Croskey-Merritt will not play Monday in Santa Clara

ASHBURN — Jacory Croskey-Merritt is out for the Washington Commanders’ Week 6 Monday night trip to the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Saturday.

The Commanders’ leading rusher did not practice Thursday, Friday, or Saturday with a groin injury. Quinn said it is a re-injury of the same groin that has bothered Croskey-Merritt since August — “harder, on the same injury,” he told reporters, per Saturday’s club report — and that the staff will work to get him back.

For DMV fans staring at a national window, the football question is immediate: who carries the ball when Washington’s hottest early-season runner is sidelined?

The backfield plan

Quinn pointed to a committee. Rachaad White has 29 carries for 118 yards (4.1 per attempt) and has caught all 10 of his targets for 53 yards and a touchdown, per the club. “He can make a cut and make big plays on that,” Quinn said.

Austin Ekeler, signed before the London game against Indianapolis, had four carries for 29 yards in that debut. Quinn highlighted his explosiveness in the passing game and said Washington will lean on “some combination of the guys.”

Jeremy McNichols, who opened the season on injured reserve with a quad injury, practiced fully this week and will travel. An activation decision is expected Monday. “He’s had a very good week,” Quinn said.

Who else is out

Also ruled out and not traveling: quarterback Marcus Mariota (knee), edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste (pectoral), and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu (groin/ankle).

Jayden Daniels (left elbow) was a full participant all week on the club’s injury report. Several skill and secondary players remain questionable — including Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin on limited work — so the final active list still matters Monday.

Monday night in Santa Clara is already a measuring-stick game. Losing Croskey-Merritt turns it into a stress test of Washington’s depth chart, not just its starter’s accountability week.

Track actives and how-to-watch on the Commanders page and the Week 6 game board.

*Evening desk prep, Saturday Oct 17, 2026. Primary: Commanders.com game-status report.*

Sources

1. Washington Commanders — Game status \| Croskey-Merritt ruled out vs. 49ers — OUT designations, Quinn quotes, White/Ekeler/McNichols notes, full injury table

2. Field Level Media / National Football Post — Commanders rule out Croskey-Merritt, 3 others — rushing totals context, Quinn “same injury” line

3. TSN / John Keim — Croskey-Merritt out with groin — beat confirmation (Giants carry context)