Redskins sign running back Shaun Wilson, waive reserve offensive tackle

Redskins training camp starts today, and with it, we have some roster updates to report.

By releasing veteran inside linebacker Mason Foster, the Washington Redskins not only freed up $4 million in cap space to potentially be used for extension purposes in the future, but they also freed up a spot on their 90-man roster, to fill at their discretion.

At the time, the Redskins weren’t painstakingly thin at any one area, except perhaps tackle, and so they had a degree of flexibility with this last roster spot. And now, just ahead of their first training camp session of the 2019 offseason, the Redskins have reportedly filled that final spot, just days after it was opened.

Per John Keim, a Redskins beat reporter for ESPN, the Redskins have signed running back Shaun Wilson to fill out their 90-man roster. In a corresponding move, the Redskins have waived offensive tackle Brian Wallace with a non-football injury designation, opening a spot back up.

Wilson, 23, went undrafted out of Duke University in 2018. At Duke, he logged 2,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground over four seasons, and he also showed some ability as a receiver, amassing 725 yards and 8 total touchdowns on 81 catches over the course of his tenure. He peaked in his final collegiate season, when he earned 818 yards and six touchdowns on 162 carries, and also built up 263 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 36 catches out of the backfield.

Standing at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, Wilson managed to sneak onto the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster in his rookie season, and while he didn’t see much action, he did occasionally step in as a returner and as a reserve running back. He finished his rookie year with 29 yards on six carries, with a long of nine yards. He also mounted seven kick returns, with a long of 29 yards.

Wilson makes a crowded position group even more cluttered, as he now joins Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson, Chris Thompson, Samaje Perine, Byron Marshall, Craig Reynolds, and Elijah Wellman (Bryce Love is on the non-football injury list). Wilson will need to make the most of his reps to stand out and earn a roster spot, but he’s still practice squad eligible if he proves too intriguing to let go.