Jacory 'Bill' Croskey-Merritt Shines in Commanders' Season Opener: 'I Did It!'
Washington Commanders’ rookie Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt took the NFL by storm in his debut game, making an immediate impact that left fans, coaches, and analysts buzzing. With 82 rushing yards and a touchdown, Croskey-Merritt’s performance didn’t just help secure a win—it marked the beginning of what could be a breakout season for the 2025 draft pick.
1. 'I Did It!' — Croskey-Merritt’s Determined Debut
After the game, an emotional Croskey-Merritt shared his thoughts on his performance: “I did it. That’s all I wanted to prove.” Despite being selected in the 7th round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the rookie made a statement in front of a packed stadium, demonstrating that he belongs among the NFL's elite. His determination and drive were evident, and he showed that hard work can lead to immediate success, regardless of draft status.
2. A Journey From Underdog to Star
Croskey-Merritt’s path to the NFL wasn’t one paved with first-round expectations. He wasn’t a household name coming out of college, but his ability to shine under pressure and make the most of every opportunity set him apart. Drafted late, Croskey-Merritt was determined to prove that his work ethic and skill set could elevate him to the highest level of competition. His performance in the Commanders' season opener solidified that belief, as he ran hard, gained crucial yards, and helped the team in ways many never expected from a rookie.
3. Commanders’ Praise for Their Rising Star
Head coach Ron Rivera and the Commanders' staff had nothing but praise for Croskey-Merritt after his standout debut. “Jacory came in and made an immediate impact. He’s exactly what we needed, and I’m not surprised by his performance,” Rivera said post-game. “We’ve been impressed with his attitude and work ethic since the first day he got here, and it showed today.”
Veteran players in the locker room echoed Rivera’s sentiment, with wide receiver Terry McLaurin adding, “We’ve known from day one that Jacory had something special. He’s a guy you want on your team—a true competitor.”
4. What’s Next for Croskey-Merritt?
Following a stellar debut, the big question now is how Croskey-Merritt will build on this momentum moving forward. He’s shown the ability to step up in clutch moments, and his blend of power and vision has Commanders’ fans excited for the future. As the season progresses, expect the rookie to take on a larger role in the offense and make even more of an impact.
Analysts are already praising his ability to read defenses, and his performance against the defense in Week 1 is just the start. If he continues to develop at this rate, Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt could quickly become one of the most exciting rookies to watch in 2025.
5. Commanders’ Future Brightened by Young Talent
For Washington Commanders, this season has already shown the potential of their young talent. With Croskey-Merritt emerging as a key figure early on, the team now has even more reason to be optimistic about the future. The coaching staff will be eager to continue developing him as a cornerstone of their offense, especially as the season’s competition intensifies.
With a remarkable debut that exceeded expectations, Croskey-Merritt is proving that sometimes the best stories in the NFL are written by those who come from the shadows to shine under the bright lights. The Commanders may have found their next star in the making.
Conclusion:
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s debut for the Washington Commanders was nothing short of impressive. In a season filled with high expectations, the rookie running back delivered when it mattered most, showcasing his talent and determination to succeed. It’s clear that Croskey-Merritt is here to stay—and this is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in the NFL.
Packers’ Colby Wooden Fires Back at Critics After Dominant Run Defense Performance
Micah Parsons, a contrarian opinion had taken hold, too–the Packers defense would get chewed up in the running game.Three days before the Packers were to play the Detroit Lions in their 2025 opener, defensive lineman Colby Wooden got a phone call. It was his father. While much attention had been foisted on the Packers in recent days after the stunning trade for pass-rusher
The Packers had to trade away stalwart defensive lineman Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons, and the feeling was, that would be costly in the team’s efforts to handle the run. Detroit, after all, rushed for 2,488 yards last season, sixth in the NFL. Without Clark, surely the Packers would be in trouble.
Wooden, who is helping replace Clark in the middle, took the call from his dad, who said, “Do me a favor, shut ‘em up.”
And he, along with the entire Packers defensive front, did just that, holding the Lions to 46 yards on 22 carries, their lowest rushing output since Week 6 in 2023. Wooden, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks held the line admirably in the middle all day for the Packers.
Colby Wooden: ‘I Took That Personal’
Wooden, for one, was insulted by the questions about the team’s inability to hold against the run.
“I for sure took that personal …” Wooden said. “So I just, did my job, went out there, stopped the run. I took it personal. Honestly, I felt like it was kinda disrespectful, like, ‘Oh, they gonna run the ball.’ So I made it my mission—we, excuse me—we made it our mission to shut them down.”
That’s not easy to do against the combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles.
“We know what they want to do,” Wooden said. “Last year, they wanted to run. They call them Sonic and Knuckles, or whatever. They want to run them 30 times. So we know they want to run that ball. We’ve got to do our job to stop the run so they can get back and let (Parsons) go get them.”
Packers Filling Roles With Micah Parsons on Board
Wooden said the effect of having Parsons on the field was obvious, and it works both ways. When offenses focus on corralling Parsons, the other Packers must step up.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, everybody got a role,” Wooden said. “Everybody’s got to buy into their role. We know what attention and what he comes with. And we know we got to stop that run, go help him out, if he is getting is getting chipped, doubled or whatever, now it’s somebody else’s turn to win their one-on-one.”
Packers Have Commanders Next
And despite the obviously encouraging results, Wooden is not getting ahead of himself. The Commanders will be next on the docket, with fearsome young quarterback Jayden Daniels on hand.
“It’s just one week,” Wooden said. “It’s Week 1. It’s great to start off with a win, dominate. But we’ve got to keep it going. We got a good team coming here on Thursday, we know we got to be ready to stop that run and contain that quarterback. So we just gotta keep going, keep getting better, keep jelling.”
