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Five Washington football players who need preseason to make the roster

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 15: Danny Johnson #41 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 15: Danny Johnson #41 of the Washington Redskins warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Running back Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes up field for a 28 yard touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Oregon State Beavers 48-17. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Running back Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes up field for a 28 yard touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. The Stanford Cardinal defeated the Oregon State Beavers 48-17. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – RB Bryce Love

Bryce Love hasn’t played a down for Washington football yet, and he’s already a fan favorite in some circles, given his college success. Love is remembered most for nearly winning the Heisman Trophy in 2017, when he rushed for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns on 263 carries, averaging over eight yards per attempt.

After that historic season, Love made the decision to stay in college another year, and it was in 2018 that he tore his ACL. Love consequently did not work out for NFL teams in the ensuing offseason, but Washington still felt compelled to use an early Day 3 pick on the running back.

Now, after a year of lingering on injured reserve, the pressure is mounting for Love to live up to the promise he showed in his junior season. Love is stuck in a crowded running back room that includes Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, Peyton Barber, and Josh Ferguson. Peterson, Guice, and Gibson are all presumed locks, while McKissic has the versatility Scott Turner covets.

Love, standing at 5-foot-9, 200, didn’t have that same versatility the last time he was on the field. Despite his running prowess in college, he never showed an ability to be a consistent pass catcher, and after his ACL injury, it’s fair to wonder if he has the same burst. Preseason was supposed to be an opportunity for him to show that he does, but now, he might not get that chance.

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