Commanders’ New Addition Could Unlock a Surprise X-Factor
The Washington Commanders are scrambling to reshape their backfield following the devastating injury to Austin Ekeler. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed earlier this week that the veteran back suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, leaving the offense without its top running back.
To counter the loss, Washington is bringing in former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos running back Chase Edmonds, per multiple reports. According to Pro Football Rumors, the deal was agreed to earlier this week, and Edmonds is expected to join the active roster at some point in the future.
The signing follows Washington’s quick workout of depth options, but Edmonds stood out as a player with both versatility and experience. Sports Illustrated noted that Edmonds signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Miami Dolphins back in 2022, evidence of how valuable his services were just a few short years ago.
Why Chase Edmonds Could Be a Sleeper Impact
On the surface, this appears to be a stopgap measure. But Edmonds brings traits that may fit perfectly with what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury wants to do.
Edmonds has always flashed as a dual-threat option. During his best season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, he logged 903 yards from scrimmage, including 43 receptions. Injuries and depth-chart battles have slowed his career since, but the ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver remains intact.
That could be especially valuable for an offense led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, who thrives on quick decision-making and designed checkdowns when pressured. Edmonds’ pass-catching reliability could help stabilize Washington’s offense while the line continues to gel.
Additionally, the Commanders’ current running back room relies on young talent, featuring rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jeremy McNichols, and running back Chris Rodriguez, who stands out as a physical runner between the tackles. Edmonds provides a change-of-pace style — quicker, shiftier, and more useful in space — that balances out the rotation.
Lessons From His Past Stops
Edmonds’ NFL journey hasn’t been a linear one. After four productive seasons in Arizona, he was signed by Miami to be their lead back in 2022, but never found his footing. He was traded to Denver midseason and later latched on with Tampa Bay, where injuries again limited his ability to establish a consistent role.
Still, flashes of his old form remained. When given opportunities in space, Edmonds showed the same burst and vision that made him a sought-after free agent just a few years ago. For Washington, the hope is that reduced pressure — and a defined situational role — could unlock that version again.
Low Expectations, High Upside
At 28, Edmonds doesn’t arrive with the fanfare or playmaking ability of Ekeler. But that also means expectations are modest, giving him a chance to quietly carve out a role. The Pewter Plank pointed out that Edmonds never fully lived up to his billing in Tampa Bay, yet his skill set is still intriguing in the right system.
If Kingsbury can scheme Edmonds into favorable matchups — swing passes, draws, and spread looks — Washington may discover a reliable contributor hiding in plain sight.
For a Commanders team that just suffered a crushing loss at running back, Chase Edmonds could become one of the more important under-the-radar additions of the season.
Yankees' Aaron Judge Gets Concerning MVP Forecast
With just over a week remaining in the regular season, MLB executives are still split on who the American League MVP favorite is between New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners catch Cal Raleigh.
There are compelling cases to be made for both, but among the 14 front office members polled by MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, seven voted in favor of Raleigh and six were in support of Judge while one individual deemed the race a tie at the moment.
“Had Judge continued the Bonds-like start he got off to, I might think differently,” an AL executive told Feinsand. “But as is, I’d go with the all-around monster year from the guy playing the most demanding position on the field.”
Strictly based on offensive numbers, there's little argument to be made for Raleigh over Judge. The latter leads the league in batting average (.328), on-base percentage (.453) and slugging percentage (.676) while also having 48 home runs and 104 RBIs to his name.
Though Raleigh leads the league with 56 homers, which is an all-time high for a catcher as well as a switch-hitter, his .944 OPS is nearly 200 points lower than Judge's, whose counting stats aren't quite as gaudy as the former's due to the fact that he's played in seven less games and has been nursing a flexor strain in his elbow.
“Holy cow, that’s a tough call; I’m actually glad I don’t have a vote,” one NL executive said. “I would lean towards Judge because I think he’s had the better overall season in terms of quality of performance. The home run total and positional advantage would go to Raleigh, but outside of that, I think you can put Judge ahead across the board. And as weird as it might sound, I actually think the Yankees would miss him more than the Mariners would miss Raleigh. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I think Judge is that important to them.”
Raleigh brings more positional value as a catcher, which is a major factor that is working in his favor. The Platinum Glove winner in 2024, he has been worth 10.1 framing runs with a Statcast Fielding Run Value of six this season according to FanGraphs.
Judge is a strong defender himself, as he's posted two Outs Above Average in right field, though playing a corner outfield position inherently makes him less valuable from a metrics standpoint.
“Judge is on another level,” an AL executive who sided with Raleigh said. “I just think the competitive advantage of a catcher producing at that elite level is so big. Plus, he’s a great defender and he catches maybe the best stuff in the game.”
This is one of the closest MVP races in recent memory, and for good reason. Judge, a two-time winner of the award, is inarguably the best hitter in the game and perhaps one of the best of all-time, at least at his peak, while Raleigh is accomplishing things no other catcher ever has.
Ultimately, the votes will come down to whether or not the Yankees captain's overall offensive dominance is valued over what Raleigh brings to the table behind the plate combined with his league-leading homer.
