Of all the players to hit the waiver wire over the weekend, Wendell Smallwood was the most popular. Before the former Eagles running back was ultimately grabbed by the Redskins, the Colts, Jaguars, and Bengals all placed claims on him, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
The Redskins quietly boast a deep running back group with redshirt rookie Derrius Guice, future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson, pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson, Byron Marshall, and Smallwood. Fun fact: No Eagles RB had more rushing yards over the last three years than Smallwood.
He would have been a logical fit for the Colts, Jags, and Bengals as well. For the Bengals, Smallwood would have provided depth behind Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard in the wake of Rodney Anderson’s season-ending torn ACL. The Colts, meanwhile, only just got Jordan Wilkins back on the practice field and they still await Jonathan Williams‘ return. And the Jaguars, who just had to place Alfred Blue on IR, likely preferred Smallwood to Tyler Ervin and Devine Ozigbo, the two RBs they picked up on Sunday.
So you’re telling me he had trade value?
I don’t really get the point of the Redskins having so many RBs.
AP is 50 and Guice is coming off knee surgery. They don’t trust either at this point.
Byron Marshall is awful. Poor blocking (Alex Smith leg injury), poor running, poor ball security. Looks a bit flashy carrying the football like a loaf of bread before dropping it.
Smallwood is the same kind of back, but a good one. Big improvement for the Redskins. I would have preferred to see them keep Samaje Perine as a third down back who can really block as well as catch. Cincinatti’s good luck.
But between Marshall and Smallwood, Smallwood is an excellent playable option if two or three backs go down over time. Marshall was just wasting a roster spot.
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Smallwood and Redskin just seem to go hand in hand.
Yo Zach, Washington waived Byron Marshall, well before this post went up…
glad we have him up for nothing then.
I’d rather have Adams than Smallwood. Everyone knew both would be dumped so there is no trade value.
if there was this much interest as is claimed, you couldve at least gotten something for him.
Who cares who wanted him, the Eagles didn’t…
I don’t even know how Smallwood made the team last year. This was a move that was a long time in coming. The Eagles are really deep at running back this year. But, Smallwood was on the Super Bowl team, so I wish him well.