Kaytron Allen hasn’t been the Washington Commanders running back getting the most attention early in training camp, but that could be changing now that the pads are on.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and Jeremy McNichols have generated more talk through the opening days, while Allen has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. That’s not necessarily surprising for a young running back trying to find his place in a crowded room.
Once the contact picked up this week, though, Allen started looking a lot more forceful, in a good way.
According to Bryan Manning of the Commanders Wire, Allen had an “excellent day” on Saturday, ripping off several impressive runs and showing the kind of physical style that could make him useful to Washington in a very specific role.
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The Commanders may view Allen as someone they can trust when they need a tough few yards and don’t particularly care if the play looks pretty. But, Saturday’s performance showed that Allen can do more than simply lower his shoulder and grind out two or three yards. He has enough burst and vision to create bigger plays when the blocking gives him an opportunity, and that’s something Washington should keep exploring as camp continues.
The Commanders don’t need to decide his role today. That’s one of the benefits of having several backs competing for touches during August. Let them show what they can do and figure out where each player fits once the games become real.
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For Allen, the goal is simply to keep making it difficult to overlook him. If he continues running with the same physicality while showing he can contribute beyond short-yardage situations, Washington could have a more versatile piece than expected. A player who enters camp as a potential situational back can quickly become something more if he keeps making really good plays.
