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Redskins RBs: Can Samaje Perine break out in Year 2 like Devonta Freeman?

By Jacob Camenker

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Samaje Perine #32 of the Washington Redskins cuts back on Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Samaje Perine #32 of the Washington Redskins cuts back on Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Samaje Perine #32 of the Washington Redskins cuts back on Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Samaje Perine #32 of the Washington Redskins cuts back on Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Derrius Guice getting hurt is a big blow to the Redskins running game. Still, there’s a chance that the team could still be effective, and Samaje Perine might be able to step into a bigger role to help ease the effects of the loss.

Despair. That was the first emotion that many felt after learning that Derrius Guice had torn his ACL and would miss his rookie season. The fan-favorite rookie suffered the injury in the team’s preseason Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots after looking good in limited action. And just like that, his rookie campaign was over.

It’s logical to be concerned about the Redskins running back corps. They had solid depth at the position behind Guice, but that’s all it realistically projected to be. Depth. There isn’t a proven starter waiting in the wings. What awaits is more uncertainty, and that has to be concerning for the Redskins offense.

That said, the run game is still going to be better than it was last year by default. The Redskins have a close to fully healthy offensive line, and they aren’t using literal ninth-string running backs as a big part of their offense. They will still have a chance to build a solid committee, and some of that hope should rest on the shoulders of their former fourth-round pick, Samaje Perine.

Perine was drafted in 2017, but took a backseat to Guice this offseason, and rightfully so. Still, too many have been quick to write Perine off the roster as a potential cut or trade candidate. Now, he might be the team’s best chance to find success. To do that, he’s going to have to make a big leap between his rookie season and second year. Comparable to that of Devonta Freeman.

I’m not throwing that name around lightly, and it’s going to take a lot for Perine to become a strong starter like Freeman. And, of course, Freeman is a very different player than Perine and has a much different skill set. But the point is, the two are coming from similar situations following their rookie seasons, so comparing them from that perspective is fair game.

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