Commanders fans fired up as rookie standout gets green light for Week 1

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Perry Knotts/GettyImagesThere weren't many Washington Commanders players who gained more hype than Jacory Croskey-Merritt this summer. The running back took the franchise by storm and became an instant fan favorite along the way. However, there were some lingering doubts about whether he'd be active in Week 1 against the New York Giants.

Fans thought the Commanders could give Croskey-Merritt a bigger role than initially anticipated after trading Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick. Expecting miracles from a seventh-round rookie is unrealistic, but his seamless transition this offseason raised…