In case anyone didn't know by the time the Washington Commanders kicked off their second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, one of their newest weapons, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, likes to go by "Bill."

It's a nickname, given to him as a kid because he looked like the cartoon character, Little Bill, Commanders fans have been familiar with since he was drafted in the seventh round out of Arizona. His family thinks it's funny, but fans have come to love it because of how his quickness, burst and decision-making have stood out in camp.

Now, the rest of the NFL has gotten a look at "Bill" and what he can do for Washington's offense. Croskey-Merritt started his professional career with about as much obscurity as possible between being one of the last picks in the 2024 draft and not having played in a meaningful game in almost a year. With just a few days before the final roster cuts, he's one of the most hyped players on the roster.

And here's the thing: the excitement surrounding Croskey-Merritt isn't slowing down.

"It was a blessing to be able to be in that position," Croskey-Merritt said after the Bengals game.

Croskey-Merritt had 46 yards on 11 carries during the Monday Night Football preseason game with his second carry resulting in a 27-yard touchdown that put the Commanders up 14-7. Croskey-Merritt followed blocks by Andre Wylie and Chris Paul on the edge, and the only contact he received came when he had already crossed the goal line.

The play drew cheers from Croskey-Merritt's teammates, but they had already seen plays like that from the rookie in practice. They have praised his vision and ability to get upfield with one cut -- both traits that were part of his success at Arizona, New Mexico and Alabama State. He rushed for 2,549 yards and 31 touchdowns during his college career, including a 1,190-yard and 17-touchdown campaign with New Mexico in 2023.

Croskey-Merritt's 78 total yards against the Patriots and Bengals don't stand out on the box score, but it's how he's gotten those yards that has the coaching staff excited about his future. He avoided disaster on his first carry against the Patriots, an outside run to the right, by breaking a tackle in the backfield and getting back to the line of scrimmage rather than taking a five-yard loss. Later in the game, he cut behind a block from Josh Conerly Jr. and slipped through a running lane that resulted in a 10-yard gain.

Though the Commanders lost to the Patriots, 48-18, head coach Dan Quinn praised Croskey-Merritt as one of the few bright spots on offense.

"I like the skills that we're seeing from Bill," Quinn said. "And I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far. I know he was amped and ready to go for tonight, but he makes plays; he's got quickness. I love the ball security that he had tonight. Those are important things that you can't overlook."

The Commanders were cautious with Croskey-Merritt in the 10 days between their first two preseason games. He suffered a shoulder injury during the Patriots game, which led to him wearing a black "non-contact" jersey in subsequent practices. Quinn confirmed before the game that Croskey-Merritt was "ready to roll" for the Bengals game and that the caution was "more me than anyone else."

The caution paid off, because Croskey-Merritt looked healthy as he ran past the Bengals' defense untouched for the score. He jumped into the stands to celebrate his first career touchdown.

"Once I saw daylight, I was like, it's finally real," Croskey-Merritt said. "So, that moment felt amazing."

Croskey-Merritt had plans to keep the ball before the game began, but as he ran to the sideline, he realized that he had forgotten to grab it through all the excitement. Luckily for him, quarterback Jayden Daniels was there to help him out and jogged onto the field to collect that ball from the referees.

"It was his first one, and I know he was super excited about it," Daniels said. "And I blame other people that are on the field at that time. They're supposed to grab the ball for him ... I still remember mine last year when Zach [Ertz] and Terry [McLaurin] made sure I got my ball. So, had to return the favor."

The attention Croskey-Merritt has gotten from fans has now spread across the NFL. He's become a popular fantasy "sleeper" pick, although he doesn't want to pay much attention to that. What he and the Commanders care most about is his place in the Commanders' running back room, which could look drastically different. Brian Robinson did not participate in the Bengals game and was excused from Wednesday's practice. Chris Rodriguez, who was moved on and off the active roster last season, may have earned a spot this year with his 40-yard run in the first quarter.

The answer to that question remains unclear, as Quinn said after the Bengals game that the Commanders are still learning about how to best use Croskey-Merritt. However, it seems clear that, like everyone else, they want to see more of him.