The Washington Redskins released Michael Hill ahead of training camp and the team is likely to use Alfred Morris, Matt Jones and Silas Redd as the main running backs for Jay Gruden and this comes as Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins are set to compete to see who will be the backup for RG3, as Robert Griffin III has already been named the starter.
The Redskins added Jones in the draft this year and he is expected to be a main contributor behind Morris in the offense for Gruden. According to the Washington Post, the Redskins have waived running back Michael Hill after signing him earlier in the offseason. Hill previously was on the practice squad last season for the Redskins and he later signed with the Colts, but was eventually released. Hill was undrafted out of Missouri Western and according to Pro Football Talk, he has previously been with the Bucs, Packers and Chargers.
The Redskins now have a roster spot open heading into training camp and Gruden could look at a number of positions to fill it with. Hill comes in with just nine career carries with the Buccaneers and that came in 2013 when he appeared in eight games for the Bucs. Morris is locked in as the starter for the Redskins, but Jones is expected to contribute since Morris has been one of the most worked backs in the league the past few years. Morris had over 330 carries as a rookie and he a combined 500+ touches over the past two seasons.
Jones adds some depth for Morris, who rushed for a career low 1074 yards last season and 4.1 yards per carry. ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim writes that Jones is likely going to get looks on third down and he also could be an option to get carries when the team wants a change of pace. Gruden has praised Jones this offseason and he said in May that Jones has shown "versatility" and explosiveness in workouts, according to the Washington Post.
Silas Redd and Chris Thompson are on the roster, but Mike Jones of the Post reports that Jones should end up as the main backup for Morris, even as a rookie. Jones said to the Post that he will be "grinding" to be the starter in camp, but it's expected that Morris will hold that job. Morris has not been great out of the backfield as a pass catcher, putting up just 37 catches in his career and that is one area where Jones could establish himself.
RG3 is coming in as the starter for Gruden this season and that leaves McCoy and Cousins to battle as the main backup. Cousins is in the final year of his contract and could come up in trade talks and with that in mind, if both players are even in camp, McCoy could get the nod as the number one backup. McCoy signed a one year contract with the Redskins and he looked a bit better than Cousins in limited playing time in 2014. Both players have to work on accuracy and Gruden said that the backup battle would play out in camp and that is when he will make a decision.
