When the Washington Redskins selected LSU star running back Derrius Guice with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, many felt like they were getting a star. In an offense that has been in desperate need of finding a star or two, the Redskins could not have been more excited to get him.
Unfortunately, Guice was unable to play a single regular season game as a rookie due to a torn ACL. He also has dealt with nagging injuries this season, only playing in three games heading into Week 13. However, in the Redskins' Week 13 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, they saw exactly what made them take Guice in the second round last year.
Guice and the Redskins were able to come up with a win over the Panthers by a final score of 29-21. It was a big win for a team that was in desperate need of one, but they could not have done it without their second-year running back.
While he didn't received a workhorse workload, Guice ended up carrying the football 10 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for eight yards in the game.
Washington seems to be set long-term in their backfield. Dwayne Haskins is the quarterback of the future for the Redskins and Guice, assuming he can stay healthy, has legitimate star potential. Averaging 12.9 yards per carry is never an easy task, but Guice made it look easy this afternoon against Carolina.
Coming into this week's matchup in the three games he had played, Guice had racked up just 74 yards on 27 carries. The Redskins have been trying to ease him into the action. There is no reason to risk re-injury with their season already being over from a playoff perspective.
It will be interesting to see how the Redskins utilize Guice for the rest of the season. They need to be careful with him, but he also needs to gain valuable experience.
All of that being said, this is a huge step in the right direction for Guice. His first two seasons have been full of pain and disappointment, but that seems to be coming to an end. For the first time in a long time, the Redskins seem to have a quarterback and running back duo that should carry them forward for years to come.
Expect to see Guice continue receiving a bigger role moving forward. This was his first breakout performance, but it definitely will not be his last.
Follow Us
Subscribe