The Washington Redskins have made their signings of wide receiver Breshad Perriman and Michael Floyd official, however, the team in a corresponding roster transaction has placed running back Robert Kelley on injured reserve with a toe injury.
Head coach Jay Gruden stated on Monday Kelley would be out at least four weeks and may require surgery. Washington opted not to keep Kelley on the active roster, opening up a spot with his IR placement. The Redskins also waived Jehu Chesson on Monday to make room for the signings — Chesson was added to the practice squad. Kelley will eligible to return in eight weeks, however, Washington also had injured rookie wide receivers Trey Quinn and Cam Sims eligible to return in seven weeks. A max of two players are allowed to be brought off injured reserve.
#Redskins sign WR Michael Floyd and WR Breshad Perriman, place RB Rob Kelley on IR. https://t.co/oV61Lds8R6 pic.twitter.com/9gd0NG8TV8
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 18, 2018
The signings of Perriman and Floyd may indicate are going to weigh their options down the line as to what players to activate per the league rule. The Redskins have been hit hard with injuries at both wide receiver and running back.
Kelley joins Byron Marshall and Derrius Guice among running backs on injured reserve. Guice is out for the season Marshall can return in six weeks from an ankle injury. Both Quinn and Sims injuries thinned depth at wide receiver not to mention the season-ending leg injury of Robert Davis and the month-long lingering concussion of Maurice Harris.
For Kelley, he was set to return from an ankle and knee injury that ended his season in 2017. He came to training camp over 10 pounds lighter and was penciled as the starting running back before the team signed Adrian Peterson with a list of injuries at running back. Kelley led the Redskins in rushing as an undrafted rookie in 2016 but has been unable to stay on the field since.
Samaje Perine is most likely to replace Kelley on Sundays as the third running back behind Peterson and Chris Thompson. Perine made the 53-man roster but was inactive for each of the first two games. Perine’s struggles with fumbling along with a preseason ankle injury slid him down the depth chart despite leading the Redskins in rushing as a rookie in 2017.
