Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper wrote that the team announced the waiver. Alper wrote that Washington can sign Allen back to the practice squad if he clears. He also wrote that the backs still on the active roster are Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez and Austin Ekeler, and that Jeremy McNichols has been designated for return and could join that group once activated. The waiver opened a spot while the club brings players back, including cornerback Trey Amos and defensive end Deatrich Wise.
RotoWire, writing on CBS Sports, had the same cut: Allen was waived Thursday after 12 carries for 41 yards in four games. That note gives other clubs 24 hours to put in a claim. It names a different supporting cast than PFT does: Croskey-Merritt (groin), Rachaad White (shoulder) and a recently signed Ekeler. Treat the waiver as the confirmed fact. Treat the exact Week 5 backfield order as unsettled until Washington posts it.
For RSO owners, Allen was a low-usage rookie. Twelve carries in four games is not a starter's workload, and a waiver means he should come off any Sunday Commanders plan. Do not pivot straight to one handcuff off Thursday's notes, because the two writeups do not list the same names behind him. McNichols is the activation to watch. Ekeler is on both lists. Croskey-Merritt is on both lists, with a groin tag only in the RotoWire note.
What happens next is the claim window. A claim moves Allen and his rookie deal to another club. If he clears, the only Commanders outcome that matters is whether they actually re-sign him to the practice squad. Neither path makes him a Week 5 start in Washington.
