The Washington Commanders waived rookie running back Kaytron Allen on Thursday, a roster move that thins the team’s backfield depth heading into Week 5.
Allen, selected in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 187 overall, had appeared in all four of Washington’s games this season. He carried 12 times for 41 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per attempt, with no touchdowns and no receptions.
The decision came after the Commanders re-signed veteran Austin Ekeler late last month. Ekeler, who tore his Achilles tendon in 2025 after two games with Washington, returned to the active roster and saw action in the Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London.
Ekeler handled four carries for 29 yards and added one catch for 11 yards in that game, operating behind starter Jacory Croskey-Merritt while Rachaad White dealt with a shoulder injury. The added veteran presence left Allen as the odd man out on the 53-man roster.
Washington’s coaching staff has emphasized competition at running back throughout the offseason and early season. With Croskey-Merritt established as the lead option and White expected back soon, the team opted for Ekeler’s experience over the rookie’s limited production.
Allen spent most of his snaps in reserve or special-teams roles. He recorded five carries for 24 yards against Dallas in Week 2 and four for 16 yards at Philadelphia in the opener, but he had zero offensive touches against Seattle in Week 3.
College production had made Allen an intriguing late-round addition. He finished his Penn State career as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards and 39 touchdowns on 769 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt across four seasons.
In 2025 he ran for 1,303 yards and 15 scores, earning consensus All-American recognition while sharing the backfield with Nicholas Singleton, now with the Tennessee Titans. Those numbers did not translate to consistent NFL opportunities in a crowded room.
Teams routinely adjust the bottom of the roster when veterans return from injury or free agency. Ekeler’s immediate availability created the need for a corresponding cut, and Allen’s usage did not justify keeping him active.
Allen now sits on waivers and can be claimed by any of the other 31 clubs. If another team submits a claim, Washington loses him for the remainder of his rookie contract.
ESPN’s John Keim reported the team’s preference if no claim arrives.
“The goal/hope is that they can get Kaytron Allen back on the practice squad,” Keim wrote Thursday.
Clearing waivers would allow the Commanders to retain Allen in the building without using a 53-man spot. Practice-squad rules permit the club to elevate him for games if injuries hit the position later in the year.
Washington faces the New York Giants on Sunday with its current backfield intact. Croskey-Merritt remains the primary ball carrier, White is working back from the shoulder issue, and Ekeler provides a proven change-of-pace option after his limited Week 4 debut.
The waiver does not close the door on Allen’s time in Washington, but it places the next step outside the team’s full control for at least 24 hours. Roster math at running back simply favored the veteran addition over the sixth-round rookie’s early returns.
