Chris Rodriguez goes for career-high and a touchdown days after being waived

by:Jack Pilgrim•about 11 hours

Dec 1, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Former Kentucky star Chris Rodriguez was waived by the Washington Commanders exactly eight days ago, the odd man out with Brian Robinson, Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols anchoring the backfield. Then Ekeler was placed on injured reserve with a concussion, keeping him out four weeks and leaving the Commanders thin at running back.

Rodriguez was brought back to the practice squad, then quickly elevated to the active roster on Tuesday. Going from jobless to an expanded role in a week, the second-year back managed to put together his best game in the NFL, going for a career-high 94 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

It was part of a 42-19 blowout victory for Washington over Tennessee, taking down his former quarterback, Will Levis. He finished with 212 yards and two touchdowns on 18/37 passing.

Not a bad day for Levis, but Rodriguez was the co-star alongside Robinson for the Commanders, who combined for 267 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground — Jayden Daniels also had 34 yards and a score — in the blowout.

Take a look at Rodriguez punching it in from the seven-yard line to give Washington its sixth score of the day:

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Chris Rodriguez Jr with the game-sealing TD.#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/l58jVMkPy3
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) December 1, 2024

Rodriguez has now picked up 397 career rushing yards and three touchdowns in 18 total games for the Commanders in 2023 and 2024. He had 247 yards and two scores as a rookie and has picked up 150 yards and a score in year two.

The star running back finished his collegiate career ranked third on Kentucky’s all-time rushing list with 3,644 yards and became just the fourth player in program history to eclipse the 3,000-yard rushing mark. Rodriguez also rushed for 32 career touchdowns, good for second-most in school history, with his 35 career all-purpose scores good for third-most. He finished with an average of 6.2 yards per carry with 20 100-yard games, good for third and first in school history, respectively.

That production is picking back up in the NFL, making Washington regret its decision to waive him just days later. 94 yards and a touchdown should be more than enough to keep him around.