Did Commanders bench Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his fumble vs Eagles?

In Washington's season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, known as "Bill," put up impressive numbers, carrying the ball 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown, with much of his success occurring in the first half. However, his performance was marred by a fumble in the fourth quarter, which ultimately led to the Commanders benching him for the rest of the game.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense only began to show promise in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns before a failed two-point conversion sealed the victory for the Eagles.

Head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged that ball security was a major concern for the Commanders and Croskey-Merritt specifically. Despite this, Quinn praised the running back's skill set, noting his explosiveness, strength, and the perfect fit he had for Washington's zone blocking system. However, he also mentioned that the decision to bench Croskey-Merritt was both due to the fumble and his overall performance.

Quinn emphasized that the young player needed more time and reps to fully grasp the offensive scheme and to demonstrate his blocking ability.

In a follow-up question about Allen's entry into the game, Quinn confirmed that the decision was indeed a result of Croskey-Merritt's fumble, but also noted that it was part of the overall plan to introduce the rookie to more playing time. The coach's response underscored the importance of ball security and the need for greater development in the running back position.