Commanders Rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. Impresses In Preseason Debut

Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., a sixth-round pick in April's draft, had an impressive preseason debut as he fights for a roster spot

The Washington Commanders had a lot to like in their 17-15 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns on Friday night beyond just the final result.

Quarterback Sam Howell looked poised in Eric Bieniemy's new offense, completing three quarters of his passes and leading an 80-yard touchdown drive. The Commanders' defense also performed well early on, limiting Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson to just 12 passing yards on his lone drive. Even when the defense began to bend, it didn't break often and managed to do enough to get the win.

There were other pleasant surprises as well, such as the play of rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. A sixth-round pick out of Kentucky, Rodriguez took his first NFL carry eight yards in the second quarter, followed by a 12-yard rush on the very next play. On just five carries, Rodriguez racked up a team-high 39 yards for the game.

In college, Rodriguez was a dynamic threat on the ground for Kentucky. His best season came in 2021, when he rushed for 1,378 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He missed the first four games of 2022 due to suspension, but he still managed 904 yards and six touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry in eight games.

Rodriguez's stat line may not be anything mind-blowing, but he made his name known in this game. Considering he's currently listed as a third-stringer on the depth chart alongside veteran back Jonathan Williams, his preseason performance could be the difference between making the roster and not. 

The rookie still has more to prove, but he got off to a great start on Friday.

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