5 running backs the Commanders could sign amid potential injury crisis
By Dean Jones
Commanders could sign Myles Gaskin
- Minnesota Vikings practice squad
It looked like a profitable career could be in the offing for Myles Gaskin once upon a time. The running back performed encouraging for the Miami Dolphins from 2020-21. Unfortunately, injuries meant his time with the franchise fell short after that and he's bounced around the league ever since.
Gaskin is currently on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He's featured a couple of times on the active roster, gaining three carries throughout the season to date. Not exactly the best production to examine, but the Washington Commanders are beggars who cannot be choosers if Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler miss extended time.
What Gaskin has is tremendous on-field vision. Everything has to be spot-on around the backfield threat these days, but there is enough burst and patience in his running style to come under consideration. He'll also be highly motivated to make an impact and help the Commanders on their postseason quest in this scenario.
Much like Jermar Jefferson, the chances of Washington identifying Gaskin as a primary target are slim. But if they do go down the practice squad route, he could be the most intriguing possibility.
Commanders could sign Michael Wiley to active roster
Aside from re-signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. and throwing him into the fire once again, elevating Michael Wiley from the practice squad and bringing him onto the active roster seems like the most realistic avenue of pursuit. After all, continuity is everything at this stage of the campaign for a team entering a fine-margin predicament.
Wiley caught the eye throughout Washington's offseason program after signing as an undrafted free agent. The explosive presence carried this on during his preseason involvement, which led many to believe he'd be taken through onto the 53-man roster following his outstanding efforts.
The Commanders went with experience and took Jeremy McNichols through instead. They thought enough of Wiley to keep him around on the practice squad to continue his development. There would be no better time to see how he's progressing if Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are unable to participate.
Hopefully, Robinson and Ekeler won't be out for too long. But the Commanders better have some options lined up to avoid their hard work in the campaign fading into the abyss.
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