Commanders’ Young Offensive Core Alive in Win vs Raiders
September 21, 2025
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Caden Senn is a sports reporter with experience covering the NFL, wrestling, dirt racing, cycling, rugby, cheer, marching and NCAA basketball, baseball and softball. As a graduate from the University of Texas, Caden is a Longhorn sports fan. He is also a fan of the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers.
Caden Senn
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Washington Commanders were able to put on a show against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon despite star quarterback Jayden Daniels missing from the action due to a knee injury.
In place for Daniels, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota led the Commanders offense to a 41-24 victory, passing for 207 yards and one touchdown on 15 completions. Though, the Commanders’ solid win wouldn’t have been reality if it weren’t for the effort of the young offensive core.
Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and second-year wide receiver Luke McCaffrey each found the end zone, with rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane adding a highlight-worthy touchdown on a punt return to combine for a stellar offensive push.
Jaylin Lane was the first to strike, coming back from the half to score a 90-yard touchdown on a punt return. Lane, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, played in both of the Commanders’ first two games of the season, catching two passes for 12 yards total before the electric play on Sunday.
The next was Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 Draft. The rookie from Arizona was able to add his own points to the board after punching in a one-yard rush on a third-quarter drive, bolstering the lead to 24. With such a lacking running back room, Croskey-Merritt saw a lot of work in his first two starts, rushing 14 times for 99 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown against the Raiders is likely to cement himself as a key part of the run offense going forward.
Jacory CroskeyMerritt #22 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after scoring a touchdown with quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game at Northwest Stadium on September 21, 2025 in… Jacory CroskeyMerritt #22 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after scoring a touchdown with quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game at Northwest Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images
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The final of the Commanders’ young offensive scorers struck near the end of the fourth quarter, as 2024 third-round pick McCaffrey drove in a 43-yard touchdown that secured Washington’s 41-24 win. McCaffrey had 18 receptions for 168 yards in his rookie season with the Commanders.
With the offense rolling and Daniels’ return to play seeming to be sooner than later, the Commanders have much to look forward to as they head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in Week 4.
For more on the Commanders and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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