Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Ruled out for Week 5
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McNichols (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants.
McNichols remains on injured reserve, so his next chance to suit up will be Week 6 against the 49ers on Monday night. The Commanders will continue to roll with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Austin Ekelers and special-teamer Craig Reynolds out of the backfield.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Questionable for Sunday
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McNichols (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.
The Commanders opened McNichols' 21-day practice window to return from IR on Wednesday. The running back logged limited practice throughout Week 5 prep and remains questionable for Sunday's game. The team still has over two weeks to ramp up the 30-year-old's practice participation before it must make a decision about his status for the remainder of the 2026 season.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Logs another limited practice Thursday
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McNichols (quadriceps) was a limited participant at practice Thursday.
The Commanders opened McNichols' 21-day practice window to be activated from IR Wednesday, but it's still up in the air whether that activation will happen ahead of Sunday's game versus the Giants. He'll likely at least have to manage a full practice before returning to game action, and Friday will be his last chance to do that for Week 5.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Cleared to return to practice
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McNichols (quadriceps) had his 21-day practice window opened prior to Wednesday's session, during which he was a limited participant.
McNichols injured his quad during training camp in mid-August, and the injury was severe enough for the veteran running back to open the regular season on injured reserve. He's progressed enough in his recovery to return to practice, though he'll likely need to log multiple full sessions before being the green light to be activated from IR. The Commanders currently have four running backs on the 53-man roster, which consists of Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin), Rachaad White (shoulder), Austin Ekeler and rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Opening season on IR
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The Commanders placed McNichols (quadriceps) on injured reserve with a designation to return Sunday, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.
As a result of the transaction, McNichols won't be eligible to make his 2026 debut until at least Week 5 while he recovers from the quad injury, which he sustained earlier this month. Once activated, McNichols could have a role on special teams for the Commanders, but he'll likely be in line for limited snaps on offense if all of Jacory Croskey-Merritt (lower body), Rachaad White (hamstring) and Kaytron Allen are healthy and available out of the backfield.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Not playing Saturday
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McNichols (quadriceps) will not play in Saturday's preseason game against Detroit.
McNichols is nursing a quad injury that he sustained during training camp practice last week, which will sideline him for each of the Commanders' first two preseason games. With McNichols, Rachaad White (hamstring) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) sidelined, the Commanders backfield will be led by rookie sixth-rounder Kaytron Allen, with Robert Henry and Craig Reynolds also in the mix for reps.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Nursing quad issue
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McNichols (quadriceps) did not participate at the Commanders' training camp practice Wednesday, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
Per Standig, McNichols is day-to-day, so it seems like the injury isn't anything severe. While the veteran is sidelined, Jerome Ford and rookie undrafted free agent Robert Henry could get more looks out of Washington's backfield.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Career year in 2025
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McNichols rushed 44 times for 221 yards and a touchdown while catching 25 of 31 targets for 196 yards across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) sustaining a season-ending injury early into the Commanders' 2025 campaign, McNichols was thrust into the role of the team's primary pass-catching running back. The Boise State product performed well, recording a career-high 417 total yards while averaging 6.0 yards per touch. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, McNichols could draw interest from teams seeking a third-down back ahead of the 2026 season.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Tallies three grabs in Week 17 loss
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McNichols carried the ball once for minus-2 yards and secured all three of his targets for 12 yards during Thursday's 30-23 loss to the Cowboys.
McNichols saw little involvement on offense even with Chris Rodriguez (illness) a late scratch for Thursday's divisional contest. Instead, Jacory Croskey-Merritt dominated backfield opportunities, rushing 11 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. If Rodriguez is able to retake the field Week 18 against Philadelphia, expect McNichols to revert to his usual No. 3 role.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Logs three touches in Week 16 loss
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McNichols finished Saturday's loss to Philadelphia with one carry for three yards and two catches (on three targets) for nine yards.
McNichols posted a season-high 10 touches versus the Giants in Week 15, but that increased workload was largely due to the absence of No. 1 RB Chris Rodriguez. With both Rodriguez and No. 2 tailback Jacory Croskey-Merritt in action Saturday, McNichols went back to his usual minor role, though he did get more offensive snaps (15) than Croskey-Merritt (11). As long as at least one of the two running backs ahead of him on the depth chart is healthy, McNichols figures to be mostly a non-factor in fantasy.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Sees double-digit touches in win
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McNichols carried the ball nine times for just six yards and caught his only target for 16 yards in Sunday's 29-21 win over the Giants. He also lost a fumble.
With Chris Rodriguez (groin) unavailable, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the Commanders' backfield with 18 carries for 96 yards and a TD, but McNichols also saw double-digit touches for the first time all season, although he did little with the volume and also had the fourth-quarter turnover. It's not yet clear if Rodriguez will be able to return in Week 16 against the Eagles, but McNichols will be little more than a dart throw either way for fantasy purposes. He's topped 50 scrimmage yards in a game just twice this year, and he hasn't gotten into the end zone since Week 3.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: More work available with Rodriguez out
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McNichols is in line for more work Sunday at the Giants with Chris Rodriguez (groin) inactive for the contest.
Rodriguez logged a pair of limited practices during Week 15 prep due to a groin issue, and after being listed as questionable ahead of the weekend, he'll get at least one week off to focus on his rehab. His 55 touches from the past five outings thus are available, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt seems likeliest to benefit on early downs, while McNichols serves in a change-of-pace role. McNichols is averaging 3.8 touches for 27.8 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring one rushing TD in 13 appearances on the campaign.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Six touches in Week 11 loss
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McNichols turned four carries into 13 yards and added two catches on as many targets for 16 yards during the Commanders' 16-13 overtime loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Three of McNichols' six touches came in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, though he was firmly entrenched as the Commanders' RB3 behind Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Through 11 regular-season games, McNichols has turned 26 carries into 181 yards and one touchdown while catching 15 passes (on 20 targets) for 139 yards.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Sleeper RBs
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Seattle leads the NFL in receptions allowed to running backs with 47, and eight running backs this season have scored at least 5.2 PPR points with just their receiving totals alone against the Seahawks. McNichols just had five catches for 64 yards on six targets in Week 8 at Kansas City, and he could be needed in the passing game with Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) out. He's a good flex option in PPR given his expected role in Week 9.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Minimal output in loss
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McNichols rushed once for no yards during Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Seahawks.
Coming off his best game of the season in the Week 8 loss to the Chiefs, McNichols tallied his lowest yardage total of the year in Week 9. The veteran running back was also held without a catch Sunday for the first time since the Commanders' Week 3 win over the Raiders. Over nine appearances this season, McNichols has tallied 272 yards and one touchdown on 29 touches. He's expected to remain the Commanders' top reserve RB in the Week 10 matchup against the Lions.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Paces pass catchers in loss
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McNichols rushed once for four yards and brought in five of six targets for 64 yards in the Commanders' 28-7 loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.
The veteran running back was once again minimally involved on the ground, but he posted team-high and season-best reception and receiving yardage totals. McNichols also tied for the team lead in targets while setting a new season-long high-water mark in that category, and he projects to remain in a similar role irrespective of who's under center for the Commanders in a Week 9 home matchup against the Seahawks on Sunday night.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Four touches vs. Dallas
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McNichols rushed twice for 22 yards and caught two of three targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 44-22 loss to the Cowboys.
The Boise State product logged 21 offensive snaps and operated as Washington's No. 2 running back in the Week 7 loss, playing behind rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt (33 snaps) but ahead of Chris Rodriguez (nine snaps). McNichols also led the Commanders' backfield in targets and receptions, serving as the team's primary pass-catching back. He's expected to maintain a similar role in the team's Week 8 matchup again Chiefs.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Totals 35 yards versus Chicago
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McNichols rushed two times for five yards and caught three of four targets for 30 yards in Monday night's loss to the Bears.
McNichols played 32 percent of the offensive snaps and set new season highs in targets, catches and receiving yards against the Bears. The Commanders appear to have settled on Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the lead ball-carrier on early downs with McNichols as the passing-down back, as Chris Rodriguez played just one offensive snap and didn't touch the ball Monday night.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Logs 18 yards in Week 5
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McNichols rushed once for six yards and caught one of two targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Chargers.
The Boise State product has now tallied just five touches over the Commanders' last two games, suggesting he's operating as the team's No. 3 running back. Although McNichols played more offensive snaps than Chris Rodriguez (14-13), he recorded three fewer touches. Additionally, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt broke out for 150 total yards on 16 touches, further cementing McNichols' status as a reserve option. He's likely to have a similar role in the Week 6 matchup against the Bears, playing primarily on passing downs.
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Commanders' Jeremy McNichols: Logs three touches vs. Falcons
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McNichols rushed two times for three yards and caught one of two targets for no yards in Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Falcons.
The veteran back played fewer offensive snaps (17) than Chris Rodriguez (20) and matched Jacory Croskey-Merritt (17) in Sunday's loss. McNichols also received fewer touches than both Rodriguez (seven) and Croskey-Merritt (nine), suggesting he's firmly behind them in the Commanders' backfield rotation. He's likely to remain a depth option, working primarily on passing downs, in Washington's Week 5 matchup against the Chargers.
