Don’t expect Adrian Peterson to have much of a role on the Washington Redskins this season based on what Jay Gruden said on Sunday.
Peterson was a healthy scratch for the team’s Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles despite leading the team in rushing last season. Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson, and Wendell Smallwood were active at the running back position. They combined to have a mere 13 carries for 28 yards. Smallwood did not have any touches but was active because he plays on special teams.
Asked about Peterson’s role on the team, Gruden offered a harsh quote.
“If we have a game where we think we can run the ball 55 times in a game in I-Formation then sure I’ll get him up,” Gruden said.
The full quote shows Gruden prefers to give the chances to Guice, a second-round pick last year who tore his ACL in he preseason.
While he said there's a place for him on this team, this is a kinda tough quote from Jay on AP's role moving forward. Full below, but ends with this:
"If we have a game where we think we can run the ball 55 times in a game in I-Formation then sure I’ll get him up." pic.twitter.com/G9h8Njdic2
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 8, 2019
The quote seems to confirm a report during the week that said Gruden wanted to cut Peterson but was overruled. It’s clear he has little use for the 34-year-old.
A report on Sunday said that Washington’s decision upset many of the team’s veterans who felt Peterson deserved to be active based on what he did last season and in the preseason.
Peterson can’t be happy about this remark.
