Football returned in a big way last night, with 12 games and a chance to see a large percentage of the various rookies in action. A lot of them delivered some big plays right away, including Saquon Barkley, Antonio Callaway and a couple of the Green Bay wideouts fighting for depth chart positioning. But the ugly side of the preseason -- injuries -- also reared its head.
Derrius Guice didn't light up the box score (6 carries, 19 yards) but he looked like a natural running the ball, and by far his best play -- a 34-yard run -- was erased by a holding penalty. Unfortunately, it was also his last play of the night; he was being evaluated for a knee injury, MRI today.
The team will need to hold its breath, since they don't want to be without him in the backfield. They've got Chris Thompson and Byron Marshall (who looked a lot like Thompson on a touchdown reception last night) but those are third-down type of backs, not suited for inside running. In that area, Washington has a pair of holdovers, and they definitely don't want to have to rely on those guys this year.
Robert Kelley had a nice rookie season, but he's awfully limited; that's why the team drafted Samaje Perine a year ago. But Perine didn't look any better, and neither one performed last season. Among all the running backs with at least 50 rushing attempts in 2017, they were two of the least effective in the league.
| RUNNING BACK RUSHING, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 81 | 448 | 5.5 | 4 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Jalen Richard, Oak. | 56 | 275 | 4.9 | 1 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| Dalvin Cook, Minn. | 74 | 354 | 4.8 | 2 |
| Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 64 | 294 | 4.6 | 2 |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Matt Breida, S.F. | 105 | 465 | 4.4 | 2 |
| LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 105 | 458 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Corey Clement, Phil. | 74 | 321 | 4.3 | 4 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Jamaal Charles, Den. | 69 | 296 | 4.3 | 1 |
| Wayne Gallman, NYG | 111 | 476 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Tarik Cohen, Chi. | 87 | 370 | 4.3 | 2 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 82 | 348 | 4.2 | 4 |
| Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Rod Smith, Dall. | 55 | 232 | 4.2 | 4 |
| Jay Ajayi, 2 tm | 208 | 873 | 4.2 | 1 |
| D'Onta Foreman, Hou. | 78 | 327 | 4.2 | 2 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Rex Burkhead, N.E. | 64 | 264 | 4.1 | 5 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Peyton Barber, T.B. | 108 | 423 | 3.9 | 3 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Malcolm Brown, LAR | 63 | 246 | 3.9 | 1 |
| Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Marlon Mack, Ind. | 93 | 358 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Ty Montgomery, G.B. | 71 | 273 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 64 | 244 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 79 | 299 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Mike Tolbert, Buff. | 66 | 247 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 117 | 435 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Matt Forte, NYJ | 103 | 381 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 71 | 262 | 3.7 | 1 |
| Mike Gillislee, N.E. | 104 | 383 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Elijah McGuire, NYJ | 88 | 315 | 3.6 | 1 |
| Kerwynn Williams, Ariz. | 120 | 426 | 3.6 | 1 |
| Mike Davis, Sea. | 68 | 240 | 3.5 | 0 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Chris Ivory, Jac. | 112 | 382 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 84 | 286 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Adrian Peterson, 2 tm | 156 | 529 | 3.4 | 2 |
| Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Robert Kelley, Wash. | 62 | 194 | 3.1 | 3 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 138 | 406 | 2.9 | 3 |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 58 | 157 | 2.7 | 0 |
| DeAndre Washington, Oak. | 57 | 153 | 2.7 | 2 |
| Eddie Lacy, Sea. | 69 | 179 | 2.6 | 0 |
Ex-Washington back Alfred Morris, running behind that great offensive line in Dallas, shows up near the top of the list. Could Washington be interested in a reunion if Guice's injury turns out to be significant?
It's early, so we can all hope Guice is OK. It's nice to have preseason football, but it's a lot nicer when players come out of the games unscathed.
--Andy Richardson