Derrius Guice is entering his third season in the NFL. However, the Washington Redskins running back has only played five games due to multiple knee injuries.
Watching Sunday’s Super Bowl, Guice took notice to Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams’ game-sealing touchdown run.
Guice’s tweet was answered by negative comments referring to his history of injuries in the NFL.
The LSU product is frustrated for being labeled “soft” from on-lookers.
“When it comes to constantly being injured and … knowing how tough you are, but everybody else is looking at you as just soft who can’t stay on the field, it’s gonna frustrate you,” Guice told Matthew Paras of The Washington Times. “You just have to realize where you are and realize where they are in a sense.
“It’s always the people behind you talking the loudest.”
The 2018 second-round pick of the Redskins has yet to reach his potential due to his inability to stay healthy and on the field. He tore his ACL in his first preseason game in 2018 as a rookie causing him to miss the entire season.
He entered the 2019 season as the Redskins’ featured back, however, in the season-opener he suffered a meniscus injury in the opposite knee he tore his ACL the previous year. He returned in Week 11, but in his fourth game back suffered a sprained MCL after being tackled low by Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage that ended his season.
The Redskins turned to veteran running back Adrian Peterson the past two seasons in Guice’s absence.
“The main thing is getting through games healthy,” Guice said added. “I’ve been a practice all-American so far. I’m trying to bring that to the field.”
Guice will enter his third season with the Redskins under a new head, Ron Rivera, who was hired in January following the firing of Jay Gruden.
The ageless Peterson is expected to return to the Redskins. Guice will surely be in the mix for carries, if he can stay healthy. He expects to be 100% and ready by training camp.
He has shown glimpses of his capabilities, but the injuries have overshadowed any positives. With just 245 rushing yards in his career, Guice will have to prove a lot starting with the ability to play a season without injury.
