
Knaak's late strike edges Man City closer to WSL title
Knaak's late goal secures victory for Man City, edging them closer to the WSL title.
Kaytron Allen was selected by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, 187th overall. His impact on the team's season is generating excitement as fans anticipate his role in the upcoming rookie minicamp.
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***Editorâs note:*Everyoneâs excited about the Commandersâ NFL Draft haul. Rightfully so. That doesnât mean each selection will slot into a prominent role as a rookie. Weâll discuss realistic expectations for each player over the next few days, leading into Commanders rookie minicamp. In this installment, we evaluate a super-productive rusher from Penn State:
Selection: Sixth round, No. 187 overall
Height/Weight:Â 5-foot-11, 216Â pounds
What assistant GM Lance Newmark said: âHe has true move-the-line-of-scrimmage pile push. (Heâs) a power player, with a lot of defenders falling backwards as theyâre bringing him down. Thereâs just a lot of power and dirty yards gained that maybe you donât always appreciate, but they mean a lot. Heâs a really good short-yardage player and really a cool kid who has been very productive for a very long time. Heâs someone we respect and we appreciate his game, which is a little bit unique to our backfield.â
[RELATED:Why Commanders took Kaytron Allen in NFL Draft]
What Kaytron Allen said: âI feel like I can do everything as a running back. I feel like people donât respect it enough, but I feel like I can do it all, strength, toughness, physicality, everything. I put everything into a running back that you need in the running back. I feel like I do that well, and it is going to be on full display and Iâm ready to go right now, man. Iâm ready to play right now. Put the rock in my hands, Iâm ready to go.â
Prominent members of the position group*: Bill Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Jerome Ford
Kaytron Allen was drafted in the sixth round, 187th overall.
Kaytron Allen plays as a running back for the Washington Commanders.
Kaytron Allen played for Penn State before joining the Washington Commanders.
Expectations for Kaytron Allen in his rookie season include evaluating his role and contributions during the Commanders' rookie minicamp.

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*Note: Taken fromMark Tylerâs way-too-early 53-man depth chart
Perfect-world expectations: The Commanders took Croskey-Merritt with the No. 245 overall pick last year and still generated 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry. All that from a seventh-round pick. Thatâs proof positive that lower-round running backs can produce as rookies.
If he earns a significant carry count, Allen could be a steady and efficient producer. Allen averaged 5.4 yards per carry during his career at Penn State, with a 6.2 ypc mark during a 2025 campaign where he generated 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns. Heâs a physical runner with some speed, so itâs possible that Allen could match what Croskey-Merritt did a year ago.
Real-world expectations: Croskey-Merritt and White will take a significant carry chunk, especially early this upcoming season. Those two were expected to be the primary runners, though Allen could well work into the mix. As Newmark mentioned (above), Allen provides something unique to the Commanders backfield. That suggests Allen will get some early work, and could be most active early in short-yardage situations. That could lead to a high touchdown count. If he makes the most of those opportunities, he could earn more work on early downs. While most Day 3 picks should come with tempered expectations, running backs buck that trend and could put a solid stamp on this campaign.
What are your expectations for Kaytron Allen in his rookie year? Add them and a stat line â what the heck? â in the comments below.