BREAKING: Commanders Rookie RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. to IR; OUT for Season
The Washington Commanders are limping to the end of the season, and at 4-11, they are losing one of their rookies for the rest of the year.
The team announced that sixth-round running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. would be placed on Injured Reserve, effectively ending his season.
Rodriguez Jr. finishes his rookie campaign with 51 carries for 247 yards and two touchdowns, both of which he scored last Sunday against the New York Jets.
Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (23) celebrates a second half touchdown against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Rodriguez Jr. saw more action on Sunday with starter Brian Robinson Jr. on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Antonio Gibson also found his way in the offense, scoring a touchdown of his own.
Despite ceding carries to the top two running backs, Rodriguez Jr. felt he made some progress in his first professional season.
"I wasn't really paying attention to what was going on in front of me," Rodriguez Jr. said about his earlier reps this season, as he tried to get his NFL legs underneath him. "Felt like I was just trying to hit it up in there, you know. And it's different, everything's a lot faster in the NFL. You can't just hit the hole and expect it to open up."
With Rodriguez Jr. out, Gibson will likely receive a bulk of the carries for the final two games of the year. The team also has Derrick Gore on the roster with Jonathan Williams and Jaret Patterson on the practice squad.
The Commanders host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
