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As expected, the Washington Redskins are placing running back Byron Marshall on injured reserve head coach Jay Gruden confirmed following practice Wednesday.
Marshall made the initial 53-man roster following final cuts despite him dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss the final two preseason games. Marshall is eligible to return after right weeks since he made the original 53-man roster. Had the Redskins placed him on IR as part of their cuts he would not have been eligible to return this season.
Marshall was set to factor as part of the Redskins’ running back rotation, primarily being a second all-purpose back as well as contributing in the kick return game. Unfortunately, he was injured on his second carry in the Redskins’ second preseason game against the New York Jets.
The Redskins are full at running back right now with Adrian Peterson dubbed the Week 1 starter along with Chris Thompson as the top third-down back and Samaje Perine and Robert Kelley serving as backups. Kelley led the Redskins in rushing yards in 2016 as an undrafted rookie. Perine led the team in rushing in 2017 as a rookie as well.
Marshall is afforded the opportunity to heal and develop while waiting for an injury or opportunity to join the 53-man roster later in the season.
In a corresponding move to placing Marshall on IR, the Redskins signed outside linebacker Josh Keyes, per Ben Standig of The Sports Capitol.
Keyes, 25, has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted in 2015 out of Boston College. He had stints in Tampa Bay, Atlanta, the L.A. Chargers, and Cleveland. This preseason he was with the Houston Texans but was waived in their final cuts.
Keyes has played mostly special teams, throughout his NFL career which shines a light into the reason the Redskins opted to sign him.
