Washington Football Team: The 2021 running backs

Sep 27, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Running back Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Running back Lamar Miller #26 of the Houston Texans rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

The Vet – Lamar Miller

Here’s a trivia question for you. Titans all-world back Derrick Henry owns the longest touchdown run of the last decade – a 99-yarder back in 2018. Who has the second longest?

That would be Lamar Miller, who popped one for 97 when he played for Miami in 2014. Actually, I’m not being entirely accurate here, because Miller’s run is tied with another 97-yarder from 2018. That would also be by Lamar Miller, this time, as a member of the Houston Texans. That’s right, two 97-yards runs in the last seven years. How many do you have?

Miller has more yards on his resume than the other five running backs combined. But he has not touched the ball in a game since 2018. Does that mean, at 30, he is totally washed up? Or does it mean that he is fresher than other runners with his long tenure?

No one knows the answer to that. We don’t even have anything on which to hazard a guess. A healthy and effective Miller is exactly what Washington would like in an Antonio Gibson backup. He’s a veteran who can actually be a very productive every-down back in a short run of games.

On the other hand, if age and rust have slowed him, there’s not much reason for him to hang around. This will be one of the assessments that Scott Turner and Randy Jordan will need to make throughout the pre-season. Because if he can’t still do it, they may choose to go in a totally different direction…