Chris Rodriguez Jr. stood in the backfield alongside Jayden Daniels waiting for the ball to be snapped during the Washington Commanders' game with the Tennessee Titans.

There were seven minutes left with the score 35-19 in Washington's favor, meaning that it was Rodriguez's job to help bleed to clock down and remove any hope of a comeback. He took the handoff on first-and-10, countered to the right and slipped through the crease up the middle of the Titans' defense while avoiding a tackle from Jeffrey Simmons. Rodriguez picked up the first down and more, bouncing off defenders before being thrown down at the Titans' 46-yard line.

The 25-yard gain was the longest run of Rodriguez's 13-carry, 94-yard day in what turned out to a 42-19 win for the Commanders. Both numbers are the best of his career, and it's taken a long path for the 2023 sixth-round pick to get that kind of workload. Over the last three months, he's been cut, signed to the practice squad, elevated to the game day roster, signed to the active roster, cut and signed again.

Rodriguez stayed consistent through all that, and his work ethic has earned the respect of coaches and teammates alike.

"We really have a lot of confidence in him, and he's just somebody that through practice and through the opportunities that he gets, he really delivers on that," coach Dan Quinn said after Sunday's win.

Rodriguez, one of the most decorated running backs in program history at Kentucky, was on his way towards building a larger role for himself in the second half of last season. He rushed for 186 yards in Weeks 11-16 and scored two touchdowns in what ended up being a 30-28 loss to the New York Jets. Then Rodriguez suffered an ankle injury that landed him on Injured Reserve and ended his rookie season.

Flash forward to training camp in August, and Rodriguez was healthy once again but had to prove himself to a new coaching staff. He had his moments in practice, particularly when the pads came on because he felt it better allowed him to show off his play style, but ultimately did not make the initial 53-man roster. He was brought back on the team's practice squad later that week.

Rodriguez was elevated three times from the practice squad to the game day roster but didn't get a carry until the third quarter against the New York Giants in Week 9. He finished the game with 52 yards, helping the Commanders close out a 27-22 win over the Giants. From that point, because league rules limit a practice squad player from being elevated more than three times, the Commanders needed to sign Rodriguez to the active roster if they wanted to use his services, which they did prior to the Pittsburgh Steelers matchup.

It was an easy decision for the Commanders, both because of what he had shown in games and practice.

"When your number's called and you deliver, it's a big deal," Quinn said the Wednesday prior to the Steelers game. "And I think Chris Rodriguez was the latest to show that he's down for the cause and just wanted to make sure that's the responsibility of all 70 on the roster. And, when we're developing people, it's to get ready to play."

The Commanders weren't done with moving Rodriguez. Because the team decided to active Javontae Jean-Baptiste of Injured Reserve, they had to make room for him on the active roster. They decided to release Rodriguez, and for other players, perhaps that would have meant listening to other teams interested in his skill set.

But Rodriguez made it clear to the Commanders that he wanted to keep playing for them, and the feeling was mutual. So, following the team's game against the Dallas Cowboys, the team brought him back to the active roster when they had to place Austin Seibert on IR.

"They [Quinn and general manager Adam Peters] believe in me, and I appreciate that," Rodriguez said. "Every week, I'm just going to go out there whenever my number's called and...do what I need to do."

That started on Sunday against the Titans, when the Commanders called on him to help them close out the game to give starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. some rest. Twelve of Rodriguez's 13 carries were in the fourth quarter, including a 17-yard run that kicked off a nine-play drive. He accounted for 33 of the 37 yards on that possession, helping the offense get in range for a 52-yard field goal attempt.

Washington's next drive was much more successful for Rodriguez. Following his 25-yard gain, he carried the ball three more times to help get the offense to the Titans' 26-yard line. On his next attempt, Rodriguez rushed seven yards through the Titans' defense for the score that essentially iced the game.

"There's a lot of trust that's built between him, his teammates, the staff," Quinn said. "And so, when he's called upon, he's really ready to deliver."

It's possible that Rodriguez will get even more action as the Commanders get ready to make a final playoff push. With Austin Ekeler on IR for the next three weeks, it provides a prime opportunity for him to create a larger role for himself, both in terms of this season and possibly in 2025.

Regardless of when his next carry will be, the Commanders know he will be ready.