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Top Chris Rodriguez Jr. News
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Chris Rodriguez: Sticks around on practice squad
The Commanders signed Rodriguez to the practice squad Wednesday.
The 2023 sixth-round pick appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Commanders in his rookie year, and over the last five games, Rodriguez turned 37 carries into 186 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 12 yards. Despite that production, Rodriguez lost out to Jeremy McNichols for the No. 3 running back job behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. Rodriguez will stick around with Washington on the practice squad, and he should be elevated to the active roster if Robinson, Ekeler or McNichols are unable to play.
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Chris Rodriguez: Waived by Washington
The Commanders waived Rodriguez on Tuesday, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
A 2023 sixth-round pick, Rodriguez saw a bigger role late last season and averaged 7.4 carries for 37.2 yards over a five-game stretch Weeks 11-16 before an ankle injury brought his rookie campaign to an early end. He came back healthy this spring, but the new coaching staff in Washington seemed to prefer 28-year-old Jeremy McNichols for the No. 3 RB role behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler. It won't be surprising if a team in need of a power runner claims the 224-pound Rodriguez off waivers.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Plays after McNichols
Rodriguez rushed the ball one time for one yard in Sunday's 20-10 preseason win over the Patriots. He added four receptions (on five targets) for 39 yards.
Rodriguez looked to be battling Jeremy McNichols for the third running back job throughout training camp and the preseason, and the conclusion may not be in Rodriguez's favor. He was the second back on the field behind McNichols with both Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler resting, and he played into the second half. Rodriguez's ability to chip in on special teams may save his roster spot, but he isn't likely to see the field much with the offense early in the regular season.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Splits time with McNichols
Rodriguez took six carries for no gain and saw one incomplete target during Saturday's 20-17 preseason loss to the Jets.
It wasn't an ideal start to the preseason for Rodriguez, and not just because of the unfortunate stat line. He rotated with Jeremy McNichols once Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler were pulled from the game after the opening drive, hinting at a competition between Rodriguez and McNichols for the No. 3 job. Granted, it might not be an especially important distinction, with Rodriguez profiling as a possible replacement for Robinson and McNichols a more natural fit to fill in for Ekeler's role. Landing on the practice squad or gameday inactive list for Week 1 wouldn't necessarily preclude Rodriguez from taking on a significant role in the event of a Robinson injury.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Likely RB3 for Washington
With the Commanders not selecting a running back in last month's draft, Rodriguez profiles as the team's No. 3 option at running back behind Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson,Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
Per Standig, Rodriguez, who's presumably past his late-season ankle issue, appears to be the clear early-down backup to Robinson. However, with Ekeler also in the mix and destined to see plenty of touches, notably in passing situations, Rodriguez doesn't initially have a path to steady volume as the 2024 season approaches. As a rookie, the 2023 sixth-rounder recorded 51 carries for 247 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches for 12 yards in 13 regular-season contests. Also currently in the Commanders' depth RB mix are Jeremy McNichols, Austin Jones and Michael Wiley (thumb).
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Shut down for final two games
The Commanders placed Rodriguez (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday.
Washington hasn't revealed the findings from the MRI that Rodriguez underwent Tuesday, but scans on the rookie running back's right ankle evidently revealed an injury significant enough to keep him out of the final two weeks of the season. The Kentucky product logged just 14 carries through Washington's first 10 games, but he saw his role expand in the back half of the campaign and carried 10 times in both of the past two contests while lead back Brian Robinson (hamstring) was sidelined. Rodriguez delivered his best outing to date in the Commanders' 30-28 loss to the Jets this past Sunday, accruing 58 yards and two touchdowns on his 10 rushing attempts while hauling in his lone target for a seven-yard gain. Robinson returned to practice Wednesday in a limited fashion and could be back in action for this Sunday's game against the 49ers, leaving pass-catching specialist Antonio Gibson and Derrick Gore as his top backup options sans Rodriguez. With Gibson set to become a free agent this offseason and uncertain to be retained, Rodriguez could open the 2024 season as the clear No. 2 option behind Robinson after averaging a robust 4.8 yards per carry over 13 appearances as a rookie.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Not practicing
Rodriguez (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
While Brian Robinson (hamstring) was sidelined for a second game in a row in this past Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets, Rodriguez ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns before exiting after suffering an injury of his own. The rookie sported a walking boot after the game and was scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday, making his absence from practice Wednesday the furthest thing from a surprise. Robinson, meanwhile, returned to practice as a limited participant, potentially setting the stage for him to rejoin Antonio Gibson in the backfield as quarterback Jacoby Brissett prepares for his first start of the season.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Requires MRI
Rodriguez (ankle) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
According to John Keim of ESPN.com, Rodriguez was spotted with his right foot in a walking boot following Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets, so it's not especially surprising that he'll need an MRI to determine the extent of his injury. With top back Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined for the second game in a row Sunday, Rodriguez once again handled an expanded role, getting 10 carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns while adding one catch for seven yards over 22 offensive snaps. With the statuses of Robinson and Rodriguez both in flux for the team's Week 17 matchup with the 49ers, the Commanders are left with Antonio Gibson and Derrick Gore as their lone healthy backs at the moment.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Dealing with ankle injury
Rodriguez suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's win over the Jets, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Rodriguez was spotted in a walking boot after the win, but the exact nature of his injury remains unclear. Jhabvala reports that Rodriguez "rolled his ankle" against New York. Given all of the injuries in its backfield, Washington signed Jaret Patterson to the practice squad Tuesday.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Spotted in walking boot
Rodriguez was spotted with a boot on his right foot following Sunday's victory over the Jets, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Rodriguez had easily his best game as a professional in Week 16, totaling 65 yards and two scores, but it appears he injured his foot somewhere along the way. Further details were not immediately available, but Rodriguez's status will be updated again when more information is released.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Finds end zone twice against Jets
Rodriguez carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards and two touchdowns and caught his only target for seven yards in Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets.
For the second straight week with Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined, Rodriguez split the backfield workload with Antonio Gibson nearly equally, but this time the rookie was the far more effective and productive back. Rodriguez got the Commanders on the board with a 12-yard TD run in the second quarter before punching in a one-yard score in the fourth quarter as the team nearly pulled off a comeback from a 27-7 deficit. Robinson has yet to resume practicing, and if he misses another game, Rodriguez could break out of the timeshare with Gibson in Week 17 against the 49ers.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Ten touches in loss
Rodriguez rushed the ball 10 times for 35 yards in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Rams.
With Brian Robinson (hamstring) sidelined, Rodriguez paced the Washington backfield in carries. He wasn't particularly efficient with the opportunity, as his longest gain went for just 11 yards and he was held under four yards on six of his 10 attempts. If Robinson remains sidelined for a Week 16 matchup against the Jets, it appears that Rodriguez will be the team's primary back on early downs, while Antonio Gibson will see most of the pass-catching opportunities out of the backfield.
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Commanders' Chris Rodriguez: Will get more opportunities
Coach Ron Rivera said Friday that Rodriguez will get more opportunities out of the backfield with Brian Robinson (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Robinson left Week 13's game against the Dolphins early with the injury, and Rodriguez handled seven carries following his departure. Antonio Gibson still paced the team with 10 rushing attempts, and four of Rodriguez's seven carries came on Washington's final four snaps of a blowout loss. While Rodriguez figures to take at least some of the work that normally goes to Robinson, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what the split between Gibson and the rookie will look like.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-11, 224 lbs |
| Birthplace: Riverdale, GA |
| Age: 24 |
| School: Kentucky |
| Experience: 2 |