One of the great things about the NFL’s practice squads are the “move it or lose it” rules set in place by the league — teams can’t simply stash a player there all year to keep him away from other teams.
The Washington Commanders got another reminder of as much when the Miami Dolphins snagged running back and former University of Michigan Star Donovan Edwards off their practice squad.
From the Dolphins’ official X account on Friday, January 2: “We have signed RB Donovan Edwards to the active roster off Washington’s practice squad and placed TE Darren Waller on the injured reserve list. We have also released CB Clarence Lewis from the practice squad.”
The Commanders signed Edwards to the practice squad on August 25 but didn’t put him on the 53-man roster for any regular season games.
“Donovan Edwards didn’t get elevate during any games this season, and he was the only RB on the practice squad before signing with Miami,” Hogs Haven’s Scott Jennings wrote on January 2. “The Commanders signed veteran RB Chase Edmonds to the practice squad a few weeks later, and chose to sign him to the 53-man roster over Edwards. Edmonds played for Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona, and also has kick return experience which is where he was used when active.”
Edwards Went Undrafted After Starring in Big Ten
With hindsight being 20/20, Edwards probably should not have returned for a final season at the University of Michigan in 2024. That’s because his draft stock was never higher than when he rushed for 104 yards and became the first player in the post-BCS era of college football to rush for multiple touchdowns over 40 yards in a national championship game as the Wolverines topped Washington to win the College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2023 season.
Edwards, 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, came back for another year at Michigan that caused his draft stock to plummet. Despite running the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein had him projected as a seventh round pick.
In 4 seasons at Michigan, Edwards scored 25 total touchdowns and had over 3,000 all-purpose yards.
“A well-built runner with good size, Edwards gets what is blocked for him but lacks creativity and play traits to find pro yardage on a consistent basis,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He won’t wiggle his way around tacklers but puts in an honest effort each snap and falls forward for additional yardage. He’s an adequate pass catcher whose protection improved greatly in 2024. Edwards offers toughness but a modest ceiling as an average three-down backup.”
Commanders Found Starting RB in Seventh Round
The Commanders may have already found their running back of the future in the 2025 NFL draft with seventh round pick (No. 245 overall) Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Croskey-Merritt — who goes by “Bill” — was named Pepsi Rookie of the Week for an NFL-leading fourth time this season after he went off for 105 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day in Week 17. That included a thrilling, 72-yard touchdown run.
“New year, same Bill,” the Commanders wrote on their official X account on Thursday, January 1.
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