Player to watch against Bills: RB Dwayne Washington

With tonight’s preseason game being a final audition for Detroit’s younger players, all eyes should be on rookie running back, Dwayne Washington.

Little was expected out of 7th-round draft pick, Dwayne Washington, coming into camp with the Lions already having two roster locks in Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. General Manager Bob Quinn also signed former Patriots running back, Stevan Ridley. Things changed when Washington took a kickoff return for a 97-yard touchdown in the Lions preseason opener against the Steelers.  He flashed good vision to go along with his rare combination of size and speed. Even with some good preseason showings, nothing was guaranteed for the rookie.

A few weeks later — with Ridley getting cut — it looks like there’s a good chance Washington will make this roster. George Wynn is really his biggest competitor for that final running back spot. Wynn has had his moments but Washington has outplayed him thus far in the preseason. Zach Zenner hasn’t been quite as effective as last year but still looks good nonetheless. With Riddick and Abdullah both having similar skill sets, the Lions need a power back to complement the two speedsters.

Of Wynn, Zenner, and Washington, only two are likely to make the roster. The team won’t play their starters much, meaning Abdullah and Riddick won’t get many carries against the Bills tonight. That sets the table for the three, young runners to battle it out for those final two spots.  Zener is probably the safest bet to make it, having shown a consistent ability to get yardage when there is even a tiny hole for him to run through. Wynn is the most complete but doesn’t have any exceptional skills other than having good speed.

Washington may have the most upside of the three aforementioned backs. He reminds me a little bit of a young Terrell Davis, who too made his first impression as a late-round pick on special teams. It’s far too soon to make that comparison, but it’s not often you find a guy with Washington’s power running ability that also has breakaway speed.

So far, he’s made a compelling case to be on this team. He can cement that case with a strong showing tonight against the Bills. With not a lot to watch in the fourth and final preseason game, Dwayne Washington is a bright spot worth paying attention to.