Chris Rodriguez Jr. turned upfield after grabbing a dump-off pass from Marcus Mariota during the first padded practice of the Washington Commanders' training camp and saw not one but two defenders in his way.
Rodriguez lowered his shoulder and laid a lick on the first, shrugging off the would-be tackler and sprinting up the sideline. He met the next defender -- cornerback Noah Igbinoghene -- about 10 yards later. Rather than avoid the extra contact, Rodriguez lowered his shoulder again and powered into the veteran before getting knocked out of bounds.
This was the day Rodriguez, who describes himself as a "bruiser back," had been waiting for since camp began. Yes, the amount of contact is limited, but it still gives Rodriguez the chance to show more of his skill set.
"It's kind of hard to show what you can and can't do when you don't have pads on," Rodriguez said. "Especially with my play style."
Rodriguez, a sixth-round pick from the previous regime, ended up making the roster as a rookie, despite getting limited reps behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson in training camp. The former Kentucky Wildcat must prove himself again, this time while working in a new offense led by a new staff. Now with a full NFL offseason behind him, he feels like he has the tools to do it.
It helps that Rodriguez made the most of his last opportunities on the field in 2023. It took until Week 11 for him to get consistent offensive snaps, as he had 21 in the first 10 games combined. From Weeks 11-16, he averaged 5.2 yards per attempt and scored two touchdowns that helped Washington nearly pull off a comeback against the New York Jets.
The problem: Rodriguez also injured his ankle during the Jets game, which led to him being placed on Injured Reserve for the final two games of the season. Rodriguez said he didn't take it "too hard," but he admitted there was some frustration to being sideline when was just starting to get in a rhythm.
"It was tough, especially in the beginning and then not winning the game," Rodriguez said. "It sucked, but it's a new team, new staff, new year, so I'm just taking it head on and seeing how it comes out."
Rodriguez had a short to-do list as he entered his first real NFL offseason. He had gained some weight since his ankle injury prevented him from running, so he wanted to trim down a bit. Once he was completely healthy, he wanted to work on his foot speed and vision. For that, he kept it simple by focusing on ladder drills and jump ropes. That came at the suggestion of running backs coach Anthony Lynn, who told the running back that a little can go a long way.
"Before I left, he [Lynn] said to do a ladder for two minutes a day," Rodriguez said. "Once you do it more than that, it becomes conditioning, and that's not what it's supposed to be."
Rodriguez's other goal was to get as familiar with the Commanders' new offense as possible before reporting for camp. That's an ongoing process, but Rodriguez believes he can be a good fit for what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will try to do in 2024.
"It's kind of versatile," Rodriguez said. "Not only for me, but for [Brian Robinson], Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols. They can get out there in the slot and do it all. For me, I feel like I'm in a good position to be that guy."
Rodriguez should have no problem proving himself as a runner. He's third on Kentucky's all-time rushing list, second in all-time rushing touchdowns and first in 100-yard games.
But if Rodriguez wants to prove he can contribute to the Commanders' new offense, he'll need to show more as a pass-catcher. He only had two targets and as many catches in 2023, resulting in just 12 yards.
Plays like his catch-and-run during Monday's practice are a start, but he's also turning to teammates like Ekeler, one of the most versatile active running backs in the NFL, for more ways he can stand out.
"He's a smart guy," Rodriguez said. "He plays the game how it's supposed to be played. He knows the coverages and everything ... So I talk to him, pick his brain about it a little bit."
But if Rodriguez wants to prove he can contribute to the Commanders' new offense, he'll need to show more as a pass-catcher. He only had two targets and as many catches in 2023, resulting in just 12 yards.
Plays like his catch-and-run during Monday's practice are a start, but he's also turning to teammates like Ekeler, one of the most versatile active running backs in the NFL, for more ways he can stand out.
"He's a smart guy," Rodriguez said. "He plays the game how it's supposed to be played. He knows the coverages and everything ... So I talk to him, pick his brain about it a little bit."
