The Washington Redskins have activated running back Derrius Guice from injured reserve and he is eligible to return to the field Week 11 when the team comes off its bye. Guice missed the previous eight games with a torn meniscus in his knee.
Since Guice has been out, the Redskins have removed Jay Gruden as the head coach and interim head coach Bill Callahan has shifted the offense to focus on the run. Veteran Adrian Peterson has been given the bulk of the load, just as he was last year when Guice missed the entire season with a torn ACL.
Guice coming back will eventually lessen Peterson’s load. How and by how much are the questions.
Peterson was inactive in Week 1, as Gruden used Guice as the featured back. The LSU product ultimately got injured in the game. Peterson replaced Guice as the featured back, and after being seldom used by Gruden, Peterson is averaging 18.8 carries and 95.8 yards in four games under Callahan.
Guice is sure to affect those numbers eventually.
Callahan recently said it was “way too early to decide on reps and counts” between the two running backs upon Guice’s return.
Guice has just 10 professional carries for 18 yards since being selected in the second round in 2018 by the Redskins.
Even though he is approaching 35 years of age, Peterson seems more primed to be the featured back for the Redskins. Especially, with Guice coming back from two major knee injuries.
But, the Redskins do need a more effective third-down back at the moment. Chris Thompson has missed three consecutive games with a toe injury. Guice is a much better pass protector and pass catcher than Peterson. Guice is also a better option to run between the tackles in passing formations than Wendell Smallwood.
Smallwood has 10 carries for 41 yards under Callahan. He has four targets. Peterson has three targets. Guice could raise all numbers, especially in the passing game. That gives rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins an additional safety net to throw to, especially with the team lacking a pass-catching tight end.
Having Guice serve as the primary backup to Peterson and the lead third-down back, may be most ideal for him this season, even when Thompson becomes available to play. Allows him to play to some of his strengths and learn to trust his knees in the process without having the responsibility of being a work horse.
It’s a role, one thought was better suited for him at the start of the season. However, Gruden appeared to have a different agenda that was largely geared at his reluctance to Peterson.
Callahan is trying to win games at the best way he knows. Easing Derrius Guice in a smaller role, yet still important to the Redskins, could spark the lackluster offense that has yet to score a touchdown in their last 13 quarters.