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Curtis Samuel

Running wideout opens camp on PUP list

With training camps opening, a lot of players are starting out on either COVID or PUP lists. The season is six weeks away so it's not a big deal in most cases. But Curtis Samuel (groin) is one to keep an eye on, since the injury also sidelined him for the team's minicamp back in June. It's an issue he's still dealing with.

Samuel is one of Washington's most significant offseason additions, slated to be the No. 2 wideout taking some attention away from Terry McLaurin. He worked with coach Ron Rivera in Carolina, and signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract.

Besides the quarterback upgrade he should get (Washington also added Ryan Fitzpatrick), Samuel has the appeal of being both runner and receiver. Not only did he catch 77 passes last year, but he lined up in the backfield regularly, carrying it 41 times for 200 yards and 2 TDs. That was one of the top-10 rushing seasons by a wide receiver in the last 20 years.

Below are the top 30 rushing seasons by wide receivers since 2000 (using 1 point for every 10 rushing yards and 6 points for touchdowns). Of those 30, five came last season (in bold).

RUSHING WIDE RECEIVERS (since 2000)
Year PlayerAttYardsAvgTDPts
2015Tavon Austin, St.L.524348.4467.4
2011Percy Harvin, MIn.523456.6246.5
2016Tyreek Hill, K.C.2426711.1344.7
2009Josh Cribbs, Cle.553816.9144.1
2010Brad Smith, NYJ382997.9135.9
2014Tavon Austin, St.L.362246.2234.4
2019Deebo Samuel, S.F.1415911.4333.9
2013Cordarrelle Patterson, MIn.1215813.2333.8
2017Tavon Austin, LAR592704.6133.0
2020Curtis Samuel, Car.412004.9232.0
2020Cordarrelle Patterson, Chi.642323.6129.2
2018Cordarrelle Patterson, N.E.422285.4128.8
2020Robert Woods, LAR241556.5227.5
2010Jacoby Ford, Oak.1015515.5227.5
2000Peter Warrick, Cin.161489.3226.8
2009Brad Smith, NYJ1820711.5126.7
2014Percy Harvin, Sea.-NYJ332026.1126.2
2002James Thrash, Phil.181267.0224.6
2020Tyreek Hill, K.C.131239.5224.3
2017Cordarrelle Patterson, Oak.131219.3224.1
2008Josh Cribbs, Cle.291675.8122.7
2016Tavon Austin, L.A.281595.7121.9
2018Robert Woods, LAR191578.3121.7
2018Tyreek Hill, K.C.221516.9121.1
2013Tavon Austin, St.L.915116.8121.1
2018Curtis Samuel, Car.88410.5220.4
2020Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.67712.8219.7
2009DeSean Jackson, Phil.1113712.5119.7
2008Ted Ginn, Mia.57314.6219.3
2015Mohamed Sanu, Cin.10717.1219.1

For now, too soon to get overly concerned about Samuel. As long as he's out there practicing fully by mid-August, no reason to ding him too much on the board. But just another injury to monitor over the next few weeks.

--Andy Richardson

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