Commanders' summer sensation leaves fans relieved after preseason scare

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesJacory Croskey-Merritt has been the summer's most heartwarming story. But what came next for the Washington Commanders' running back was even more important.

Flashing brilliance in a controlled training camp setting is one thing. Doing it in a typical NFL game-day environment is something else entirely.

This was the challenge facing Croskey-Merritt during the Commanders' preseason curtain raiser against the New England Patriots. Head coach Dan Quinn rested his established stars after a physical joint practice with Mike Vrabel's men earlier in the week. Considering the seventh-round pick had a lighter…