Redskins: Should Mack Brown or Matt Jones get more carries in Week 4?

The Redskins starters are set to have a break from live contact this week. The top three running backs likely fit this category, paving the way for Matt Jones and Mack Brown to see plenty of action. Who should get more carries?

The Redskins have had Mack Brown on the back burner all offseason. There’s really no reason to move him from his current spot just yet. The Florida product had a good preseason last year. Furthermore, he flashed on a long touchdown run against the Bears in the regular season of 2016. But his sample size remains too small. Even with a good performance in Thursday’s preseason game, Brown still might not have a resume compelling enough to earn a roster spot.

In contrast, the Redskins haven’t been holding Matt Jones for the right moment. Rather, they’ve been trying to get rid of him all offseason. They were reportedly shopping him during draft season, and casual talks have carried on since May. Nevertheless, no transaction has materialized, and now, just a week removed from cut day, the Redskins don’t have much time to make it happen.

It was never likely that a Jones trade would happen, but a recent injury could change that. The Kansas City Chiefs lost Spencer Ware for the 2017 campaign earlier in the preseason. Ware was their presumed starter, and the rest of their options in the running back room aren’t nearly as compelling. Jones might not start right away in Kansas City, but he would provide them with three things: Depth, experience, and potential.

The Chiefs aren’t clamoring for a deal to get done right now, however. The Redskins need to show that Jones still has what it takes if they wish to get compensation. Thus, it would make sense for the Redskins to throw Jones into the fold on Thursday, giving him no less than three quarters of playing time as the starting running back. It would be the last effort in a quest to get something from their once-promising, ill-fated third-round pick, other than disappointment.

But while the Redskins have reason to play Jones, the probability of a change in his trade status is low. And the Redskins have another back they need to analyze further: Mack Brown. The former undrafted free agent is a fan favorite, due to his unknown ceiling. Playing Brown would ensure that the Redskins know what they have in him. Therefore, they would be able to move forward with a confident decision on whether he should stay on the team as a fourth running back.

Next: Redskins vs. Buccaneers preseason preview

Who should the Redskins give more playing time against the Buccaneers? Matt Jones? Or Mack Brown? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and be sure to tune in to our live game blog, which will be up and running on Thursday at 7:30 PM, providing you with play-by-play updates of the game. The regular season is almost here. But there’s still one more very important game yet to commence.