Have Redskins found next breakout RB in Robert Kelley?
LANDOVER, Md. – Kirk Cousins is playing the best football of his career, the defense stopped Aaron Rodgers, and the Washington Redskins have injected a strong dose of momentum into their season.
But could Washington have found a workhorse running back in undrafted rookie Robert Kelley?
Since being named the starter earlier this month, Kelley has not only responded, he has proven to be a potentially season-altering piece that could help Washington down the stretch in its hunt for a playoff spot.
Sunday night’s 42-24 thrashing of the Green Bay Packers showed just why.
Kirk Cousins builds his case as Redskins continue to rise
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
“We thought he deserved an opportunity, and when he got an opportunity, nobody really knew exactly what was going to happen on a Sunday afternoon with him getting a ball,” head coach Jay Gruden said after the game. “We had high hopes because we saw what he was doing in practice, but we’re not live tackling the practice effort. We saw him in the preseason games but to see what he does with the pads on, well, it’d be tough to get him out of there now. He’s a strong back, has great vision and runs extremely hard, so we’re thrilled to death. He’s just got to keep working like everyone else.”
Kelley ran 24 times Sunday night for 137 yards and three touchdowns. His ascension has resulted in former starter Matt Jones in being a healthy scratch.
"I feel good about getting that sixth win and I’ve been getting too much credit,” Kelley told reporters after the game. “It’s the offensive line, man. I feel like I came out, I was into something and those guys pulled me out, put me on their back and kept going and that’s what we did.”
He’s being modest.
In the three games since Kelley was named the starter, he has averaged 22.3 carries per game, has run for 321 yards for a 4.79 yards per attempt average and has scored four touchdowns.
40 things we learned in Week 11 of the 2016 NFL season
Sunday night’s breakout performance is not only a potential sign of future production, but that it came against the NFL’s sixth-ranked rushing defense made it even more impressive. And as the Packers tried to cobble together a comeback attempt, it was Kelley whom Washington rode until the end.
“It felt good to ice the game, man,” Kelley said. “To let those guys know that it’s over. That’s what we did at the end of the game.”
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 11
