Commanders add running back Robert Henry Jr. to active roster ahead of Rams
The Washington Commanders reclaimed running back Robert Henry Jr. off waivers and added him to the active roster, the team announced Nov. 5, 2026. The move addresses depth after Jacory Croskey-Merritt was placed on injured reserve until at least Week 12 and Jeremy McNichols was ruled out for the season. Head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday he was pleased to have Henry back with the team and that the club is excited for his return. Henry will likely need to produce quickly with a key matchup against the Los Angeles Rams looming.
Henry did not make the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster after training camp and signed to the practice squad, but the Seattle Seahawks signed him off Washington’s practice squad in October. The Seahawks released him earlier in the week, and the Commanders reclaimed the undrafted rookie by placing him on the active roster. Henry spent part of the preseason with the Commanders and returned to the team after the Seahawks’ depth needs changed. He said he is preparing daily for a chance to play and understands he must show he can perform to keep his spot.
Henry showed burst and vision in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, when he had 75 yards on 12 carries, including a 22-yard touchdown. He had 36 yards combined in his next two preseason games but displayed enough as a ball carrier and in pass protection to earn a practice-squad role. In portions of that preseason game, Henry’s first three runs went for 11, four and two yards, and he accounted for 57 rushing yards on six carries across two possessions. The Commanders also view him as an option on special teams, as he has experience returning kicks.
College production informed the decision: Henry rushed for 2,339 yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons at UTSA, averaged 5.7 yards per carry and became the third player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season despite missing two games. His highlight college performance came against Texas A&M, when he rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The depth chart lists Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler ahead of Henry, and Ekeler was not with the team when Henry was last on the roster. With the Rams allowing the fifth-fewest yards per game and ranking sixth in third-down conversion rate, Washington may need contributions from Henry sooner rather than later.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The promotion of Robert Henry Jr. is a pragmatic roster move by the Washington Commanders to address immediate running back depth after two players moved to injured reserve. Henry has shown explosive plays in the preseason and produced at a high level in college, but he must translate that production into regular-season snaps to earn a larger role. With Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler ahead of him, Henry’s initial opportunities may come on special teams and in limited offensive packages while he learns from veteran teammates. The upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams presents a difficult defensive matchup, making early returns important for Henry to establish himself beyond emergency depth.