How Byron Marshall can win a spot on the Redskins 53-man roster

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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins stands on the sidelines during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Marshall’s versatility and Jay Gruden’s comments

What Marshall can provide for the Redskins as the No. 4 back is versatility. Unless injuries become a major issue again, it’s unlikely that he’ll be asked to play a major role on offense. But as a depth player, he could carve out a role in many areas.

The first is obviously that he could help on kick and punt returns. He may not necessarily be the returner on every play, but he has thick build on his 5-foot-9, 201 pound frame. That could allow him to succeed as a blocker and may even as a tackler. So, that could do a lot to get him on the team.

Additionally, Marshall is versatile enough to be a running back or even a slot receiver. Marshall has very good receiving skills, as evidenced from his college tape, and he could be a unique player at that position. He would be an undersized, fast and physical player who could fight for balls and make big plays. He probably won’t see a lot of time there, or at running back for that matter, but as a gadget player who could enter the game in certain packages, that could be valuable.