Lions' Dwayne Washington Bolstering Case To Make The Cut
By Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
The Detroit Lions loafed through Thursday night's tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals, but rookie running back Dwayne Washington was one player who stood out.
That makes it two games in a row that the seventh-round pick has made a positive impact, and the Lions coaching staff is taking notice.
"He's helping himself, that's for sure. He's not hurting himself," said Jim Caldwell, who isn't exactly known for declarative language. "Any time that you do what he's been able to do, he's certainly trending in the right direction."
Washington saw limited action in the Lions' preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but flashed his speed when he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That gave credence to the coaches' belief that he can be a difference-maker on special teams, and further opened the door for Washington on the 53-man roster.
He built on this momentum last night, exhibiting his versatile skill-set in a number of different areas. He downed a punt inside the Bengals' four-yard line, returned another kickoff (this one for 28 yards), was targeted in the passing game, and -- most significantly -- he excelled as a running back, gaining 22 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
"I just gave it all I got," Washington said of his late foray into the end zone. "It was at the end of the game, but I kind of saw that the defense was fatigued, so we kind of took over our run game from there and it was a touchdown."
Washington entered Thursday night's game as the fifth running back on the Lions' depth chart, with the team likely to keep four players at that position. But he was the second running back to come off the bench, gaining action ahead of both Stevan Ridley and George Winn.
More importantly, out of Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, Ridley and Quinn, Washington was by far the most effective runner. He averaged 3.7 yards per carry while the rest of the group averaged just 1.9 yards.
Yes, the majority of Washington's carries came in the fourth quarter against second- and third-string players, but it was another example of the rookie making the most of an opportunity, something he knows is crucial in his fight for a roster spot.
"It's very important. I have my role, which is running back, so for me it's trust issues of carrying the ball and getting positive yards. I just have to run the ball and just give it all I got," Washington said.
Washington got off to a slow start in the offseason, joining the team midway through OTAs after finishing out his college degree. But he continues to make up the ground as he grows more comfortable against NFL competition.
"I would just say it's more of me being in my comfort zone, which will just have me slow the game down and then just carry everything on from there," said Washington.
A lot can happen in the final two weeks of preseason, but Washington has certainly bolstered his stock thus far. The Lions are intent on testing their rookies in various roles and the 22-year-old continues to rise to the challenge.
"A lot of evaluating goes on out there, we'll take a long at some of these young guys and see how they function," Caldwell explained. "You put guys in different spots and different situations and make sure that here, in the next couple weeks or so, we're able to make a real good decision."
In the opportunities he's been given, Washington has shown flair as a kickoff returner and competence as a running back. He has turned heads on punt coverage and gained attention in the passing game. That's likely more than anyone thought he would accomplish through two weeks of the preseason, and it certainly bodes well for his prospects of making the team.
Not that any of that is on his mind.
"Like I said, I'm just taking it one day at a time and just doing what I can do to help the team," he said.
Hey, he talks like a pro, too.
