Byron Marshall fits ‘sleeper’ mold at Redskins camp

RICHMOND — The “numbers game” for the Redskins started the moment the franchise began this year’s training camp. Washington has until Sept. 1 to cut its roster from 90 players to 53, but players battling for starting roles and roster spots are consistently being evaluated.

A week later, the pecking order for some position groups has become clear. Running back, however, is not among them.

So far in camp, the Redskins have rotated five of their seven backs between the first and second units. Of those five, rookie Derrius Guice and Chris Thompson are locks to make the roster (unless either suffers a season-ending injury or another unexpected calamity).

Since the Redskins typically carry four backs on their roster, that likely means there are two remaining spots.

But if there’s any stress that comes with fighting for a job, reserve Byron Marshall has learned not to worry.

“It’s not like, ’Oh me worrying more is going to help me make the team more,’” Marshall said. “So I’d rather just be relaxed and be loose and be myself.”

Marshall’s approach seems to be working. The 5-foot-9 running back has emerged as an intriguing option for the Redskins — largely because he also fits the Thompson mold of being a third-down specialist.

With Thompson, who has a history of injury, recovering from a broken leg, having a player like Marshall who could step into the third-down back’s role Might be enough to make the final 53.

“It’s just important to have guys on the roster with different skill sets and Byron is one of those guys,” Thompson said. “We kind of do the same thing. I think it’s huge because injuries happen. … He’ll be a guy that’s ready to come in and do a great job with a role.”

Last season, the Redskins signed Marshall off Philadelphia’s practice squad in mid-November to replace an injured Rob Kelley and add depth. Washington, though, needed him to play after Thompson suffered a broken leg five days later against the New Orleans Saints.

In four games, Marshall played 50 snaps and had 68 yards from the line of scrimmage (32 rushing yards, 36 receiving yards). But his season was soon cut short — he hurt his hamstring on a kickoff return against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The injury was another tough break for Marshall. In 2016, he went undrafted out of Oregon and signed with the Eagles only to begin the season on the practice squad. While he was eventually promoted and appeared in three games, Marshall landed on Philadelphia’s practice squad again to begin 2017.

Still, Marshall is a fit in today’s pass-happy NFL. It helps the 24-year-old was a wide receiver in college, which he said makes him much more of a route runner.

Coach Jay Gruden said the Redskins could “without a doubt” have someone on the roster specifically to back up Thompson for the 53.

“The good thing is Kapri Bibbs is very good out of the backfield and Byron Marshall has shown things that he could be a very explosive player for this football team, out of the backfield and running the football between the tackles and outside,” Gruden said. “So, I think we have that spot covered.”

Marshall said everything in his career so far has been a learning experience.

“I can’t control what decisions they make,” Marshall said. “I can just control if I go out there and have a good day or not. So come out here, play well, practice hard, make players. Other than that, that’s all I can do.”