The Washington Redskins are adding a player to their backfield that comes from a division rival. Just a day after being waived by the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington is claiming Wendell Smallwood per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Staying in the division: Former #Eagles RB Wendell Smallwood was claimed by the #Redskins. … LB Malik Jefferson by the #Browns.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2019
Smallwood spent the past three seasons in Philadelphia after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. In those three seasons, Smallwood started in 12 games; accounting for 850 yards and seven total touchdowns.
The Eagles viewed him as expendable as they have Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders, Darren Sproles, and Corey Clement on the roster. Along with Smallwood, Philadelphia also decided to release Josh Adams.
As for Smallwood, the former Mountaineer goes from one loaded backfield to another one in the nation's capital. Currently, Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, and Chris Thompson are ahead of the former Eagles running back on the depth chart.
At some point, the team may begin leaning on Guice as their starter but that still doesn't help Smallwood. It remains to be seen how they plan to utilize him but they obviously have something in mind for him; considering they claimed him off waivers.
Over the course of his career, Smallwood hasn't shown enough to earn himself a prominent role in an NFL offense. Nevertheless, the Redskins could deploy him on special teams and use him sparingly on offense.
As a result of Washington signing Smallwood, the team parted ways with running back Byron Marshall.
Marshall had spent the past two seasons with the Redskins after beginning his career with the Eagles in 2016.
Follow Us
Subscribe