Despite leading the Washington Redskins with 1,042 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season, veteran and former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson will not be the Redskins’ featured back heading into the 2019 season. Head coach Jay Gruden told the media Monday, Washington’s run game will go through second-year pro Derrius Guice.
This is despite the fact Guice has yet to have a carry in an NFL regular season game. Guice, a 2018 second-round draft pick, tore his ACL in last year’s preseason opener forcing him to miss his entire rookie season. He underwent three additional surgeries due to an infection following the initial surgery.
He returned for training camp, and while he was a full-go in practices, the Redskins held the former LSU product out the first two preseason games. His only rehearsal was in the third preseason game against Atlanta with 11 carries for 44 yards.
In the game, Guice displayed his speed and ability to cut and change direction. Apparently, that was enough to convince the Redskins coaching staff to feature him over Peterson.
Peterson, 34, will start his 13th season as a backup behind a young unproven yet full of potential running back. This could be similar to what he experienced in New Orleans in 2017 as he backed up Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, leading to him requesting a trade that ultimately landed him in Arizona that season.
Guice will attempt to prove he is a star back in the NFL behind a line that appears weakened by the absence of their cornerstone left tackle Trent Williams, who is still holding out from the Redskins. In an utopia, Guice will get the bulk of the carries, preserving Peterson down the stretch.
If things don’t work out, Washington will have a reliable backup plan in the future Hall of Famer, Adrian Peterson.
