Fortunately for the Washington Redskins, the injury bug has already started to infest the organization. Hopefully, things won’t become as dire as they did in 2017 but the team has already had to make moves to replace injured players and it is only Week 3 of the preseason.
Rookie RB Derrius Guice went down for the season before training camp was over but coach Jay Gruden was optimistic about the other backs he already had on the roster. Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine, Chris Thompson, Kapri Bibbs, Byron Marshall and Martez Carter all were potential starters or decent backups.
Then the New York Jets came to town for Week 2 of the preseason and, by the time that final whistle of that game had blown, Perine and Marshall were injured and out for at least a couple of weeks. Then Carter was waived with an injury designation.
Suddenly the team was down to a skeleton crew of rushers and needed to find another running back to take first- and second-down snaps.
Enter future Hall-of-Fame back Adrian Peterson. “AP” is a guy whose name that anyone who has watched more than one game of professional football knows. A veteran that entered the league in 2007, he was drafted that year by the Minnesota Vikings No. 7 overall.
Peterson’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award is just one of many he has earned over the years. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he was also in the NFL’s Top 100 list seven times, ranking anywhere from No. 98 (last year) to No. 1 in 2013. He was also an All-Pro in 2008 and 2009 and in 2012 and 2015.
Who wouldn’t want a guy like that on their team when the injury bug hits?
Both head coach Jay Gruden and Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, Doug Williams, have commented on how fit Peterson is. His stats last year with the Arizona Cardinals were mixed. In two games, he recorded over 100 yards (134 at 5.15 ypc and 159 at 4.30 ypc) but also had four games where he averaged less than two yards per carry. Whether or not he can produce here is yet unknown.
Whatever the case, the veteran is happy to be here as shown in his tweet from the day he was signed by Washington. Apparently, he is happy to be with the Burgundy and Gold… for now.
Everything happens for a reason. Wait on God and trust in him. He wants the best for us! He wants to take us from glory to glory, and from victory to victory. #faith #believe #redskins #allday pic.twitter.com/cZmzWoorLj
— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) August 21, 2018