RB roster battle is fun to watch, but injuries will force tough decisions

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article_body => "Too much attention gets paid to roster construction during training camp. Projecting the 53-man roster has become its own August cottage industry, much like Bracketology flourishes in March.<\/p>\nThe truth of the matter is regardless of projections, more than anything else, injuries dictate what players ultimately land on the Week 1 roster. <\/p>\nRight now, that is apparent with the Redskins' running back position. Derrius Guice headlined the group after Washington grabbed him in the second round of April's NFL Draft. After injuring his knee in the first preseason game, however, Guice won't play in 2018. <\/p>\nThat means the other five guys battling for a spot now move up in the pecking order. Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson will make the team, even though Thompson is yet to play in the preseason and is still battling back from a broken leg last November. <\/p>\nSamaje Perine, Byron Marshall, and Kapri Bibbs played with the 'Skins last season and were locked in a tense battle for spots. Then, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/injuries-marshall-and-perine-will-open-door-kapri-bibbs-make-redskins\">Perine and Marshall got hurt<\/a> Thursday night. Perine is expected to miss a week, while Marshall could miss up to four weeks. <\/p>\nCan both Perine and Marshall still make the Redskins 53-man roster? <\/p>\nOf course. <\/p>\nIs that a certainty? Definitely not. <\/p>\nBibbs gets a major opportunity now, and he has looked good so far in camp and preseason games. Additionally, for Bibbs, it often gets lost that he actually played well <\/em>in Washington last season. In three games he had more than 200 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. <\/p>\nIf Marshall truly needs a month to get his lower leg injury settled, that won't be until after the deadline to trim rosters. The Redskins could move him to the injured reserve list before then, but that would mean Marshall would not be eligible to play for the Burgundy and Gold until Week 7. Also, the team only gets two moves off of IR for the season. Would they want to use one on their fourth running back?<\/p>\nPerine's injury situation seems less severe, and barring a setback or further injury, he will be on the roster. <\/p>\nThat means Thompson, Kelley, Perine, and Bibbs. Maybe Marshall too, but that will be determined by his rehab schedule. <\/p>\nMartez Carter made impressive runs against the Jets, and while it seems easy to dismiss his roster candidacy, remember Rob Kelley was an undrafted free agent out of a small Louisiana school just a few years ago.<\/p>\nComplicating matters is the reality that Washington's front office is absolutely going to be watching what other NFL teams do at roster cut time. Other running backs could emerge, especially from teams like Detroit that already have a crowded running back room and added more players via the draft. <\/p>\nCoaches like to say competition on the field is what makes roster decisions. And yes, that's a big part of it. The violent nature of the NFL, the ultimate Next Man Up league, plays a huge factor as well. <\/p>\nTrimming a roster because of injuries doesn't mean there aren't mistakes made. It sure looks like Washington screwed up last year by cutting QB Nate Sudfeld, even though the team felt compelled to keep extra offensive linemen. <\/p>\nIt might be trite, but the NFL is a long, grueling season. The Redskins know that. The team lost more players to injury than any other NFL squad last season. <\/p>\nSo when looking at 53-man roster projections, know there are two more preseason games left, and sad but likely, more injuries to come. <\/p>\nMORE REDSKINS NEWS:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>SPREAD THE WEALTH: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/paul-richardson-explains-why-having-true-no-1-wr-isnt-critical-redskins\">'SKINS FINE WITHOUT A TOP W.R.?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>BATTLE IT OUT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/need-know-redskins-running-back-battles-are-fierce-and-complicated\">R.B. IS A SPOT TO WATCH<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\nDon't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/redskins-talk\/id1151988852?mt=2\">Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Iygppa4jqsc74swaa7q7vfdc3ym?t=Redskins_Talk\">here for Google Play<\/a> or press play below.<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/f1339a3e-06a7-41d6-bc8b-77df06fb8eae\/episodes\/ae955392-e81b-4621-8fbb-25647ac16d39\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n"
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Redskins

Too much attention gets paid to roster construction during training camp. Projecting the 53-man roster has become its own August cottage industry, much like Bracketology flourishes in March.

The truth of the matter is regardless of projections, more than anything else, injuries dictate what players ultimately land on the Week 1 roster.

Right now, that is apparent with the Redskins' running back position. Derrius Guice headlined the group after Washington grabbed him in the second round of April's NFL Draft. After injuring his knee in the first preseason game, however, Guice won't play in 2018.

That means the other five guys battling for a spot now move up in the pecking order. Rob Kelley and Chris Thompson will make the team, even though Thompson is yet to play in the preseason and is still battling back from a broken leg last November.

Samaje Perine, Byron Marshall, and Kapri Bibbs played with the 'Skins last season and were locked in a tense battle for spots. Then, Perine and Marshall got hurt Thursday night. Perine is expected to miss a week, while Marshall could miss up to four weeks.

Can both Perine and Marshall still make the Redskins 53-man roster?

Of course.

Is that a certainty? Definitely not.

Bibbs gets a major opportunity now, and he has looked good so far in camp and preseason games. Additionally, for Bibbs, it often gets lost that he actually played well in Washington last season. In three games he had more than 200 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

If Marshall truly needs a month to get his lower leg injury settled, that won't be until after the deadline to trim rosters. The Redskins could move him to the injured reserve list before then, but that would mean Marshall would not be eligible to play for the Burgundy and Gold until Week 7. Also, the team only gets two moves off of IR for the season. Would they want to use one on their fourth running back?

Perine's injury situation seems less severe, and barring a setback or further injury, he will be on the roster.

That means Thompson, Kelley, Perine, and Bibbs. Maybe Marshall too, but that will be determined by his rehab schedule.

Martez Carter made impressive runs against the Jets, and while it seems easy to dismiss his roster candidacy, remember Rob Kelley was an undrafted free agent out of a small Louisiana school just a few years ago.

Complicating matters is the reality that Washington's front office is absolutely going to be watching what other NFL teams do at roster cut time. Other running backs could emerge, especially from teams like Detroit that already have a crowded running back room and added more players via the draft.

Coaches like to say competition on the field is what makes roster decisions. And yes, that's a big part of it. The violent nature of the NFL, the ultimate Next Man Up league, plays a huge factor as well.

Trimming a roster because of injuries doesn't mean there aren't mistakes made. It sure looks like Washington screwed up last year by cutting QB Nate Sudfeld, even though the team felt compelled to keep extra offensive linemen.

It might be trite, but the NFL is a long, grueling season. The Redskins know that. The team lost more players to injury than any other NFL squad last season.

So when looking at 53-man roster projections, know there are two more preseason games left, and sad but likely, more injuries to come.

MORE REDSKINS NEWS:

SPREAD THE WEALTH: 'SKINS FINE WITHOUT A TOP W.R.?
BATTLE IT OUT: R.B. IS A SPOT TO WATCH

#REDSKINSTALK PODCAST

Don't forget to subscribe to the #RedskinsTalk podcast, hosted by JP Finlay.

Click here for the #RedskinsTalk on Apple Podcasts, here for Google Play or press play below.