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The Washington Commanders are looking to shore up their running back depth after a rough start to the season. In August, they traded Brian Robinson Jr., believing their backfield was strong enough and that they could gain value for a player in the final year of his contract. Now, with Austin Ekeler out for the season due to a torn Achilles in Week 2, the depth chart is being tested.
To address the issue, the Commanders signed veteran running back Chase Edmonds to their practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Edmonds has played in 83 NFL games since being drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals out of Fordham.
Edmonds spent his first four seasons with the Cardinals, carrying the ball 333 times for 1,551 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught 128 passes for 921 yards and five more touchdowns. His best season in terms of receiving came in 2020, when he caught 53 passes.
After leaving Arizona following the 2021 season, Edmonds had stints with the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played eight games with Miami and 13 games with Tampa Bay in 2023. Unfortunately, a 2024 injury kept him on injured reserve for the entire season. Edmonds officially became a free agent in March 2025 and had remained unsigned until now.
The Commanders still have Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Jeremy McNichols at running back. However, with Ekeler gone, Edmonds now becomes the team’s best passing back, giving him a strong chance to see time as a third-down back. His experience and versatility could provide a much-needed boost for Washington’s offense moving forward.