After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, Redskins running back Derrius Guice made his 2019 preseason debut Thursday night.
Coach Jay Gruden wanted to feed Guice, and the Redskins did just that. Guice had 11 carries for 44 yards against the Falcons and a touchdown run was nullified by a penalty.
.@Redskins RB Derrius Guice came back looking STRONG in his first game since tearing his ACL a year ago. 💪
And wait until you see that stiff arm. @DhaSickest pic.twitter.com/MfM9gcTPbp
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2019
"It was important to get him the ball," Gruden said (via NFL Media ). "Wanted to give him quite a few touches. Get him some rhythm, a sweat. Get used to hitting the ground, getting hit, tackled, protecting the football. … I think it was a productive night for him. Looked like he was decisive with his cuts for the most part, ran with some power at times, moved the pile when there wasn't anything there. I was impressed."
In short, this is the running back the Redskins expected when they picked him in the second round in 2018, before an ACL tear in the first preseason game ended his year. Guice racked up 2,868 yards from scrimmage with 29 touchdowns in his final two seasons at LSU.
"It's been a long time, bro," Guice said (via The Washington Post ). "I knew it was something I needed. I needed to get out there, get my feet under me, get some contact to really see where I'm at."
Adrian Peterson opens the season as the starter, with Guice and pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson behind him on the depth chart. But it's not hard to imagine Guice grabbing the bulk of the carries from the 34-year-old Peterson at some point.