Washington Redskins Chris Thompson will practice

Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson is in a competition for a change-of-pace role, but he absolutely has to stay healthy in order to net a roster spot in a crowded Redskins backfield. Nothing is certain beyond the fact that Alfred Morris will once again be the workhorse, and I’m sure new head coach Jay Gruden would love nothing more than to have Thompson- or someone else- emerge as a strong third-down back who can catch passes out of the backfield on Robert Griffin III checkdowns.

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Thompson suffered an ankle injury earlier in training camp, and his ailment has been a bit slower to heal than expected. Thankfully, Chris Russell reports that Thompson will return to practice today, and even though it will only be on a limited basis, it’s still good to hear that he’ll be back on the field. That said, Russell notes that it still isn’t clear if the Florida State product will be able to play against the Baltimore Ravens.

I think Thompson has to get on the field in time to face the Ravens, though that might be pushing it. At this point, he only has a limited number of opportunities to show his stuff, because the injuries have really derailed him to this point. The Redskins can’t trust Thompson to stay healthy, but he can make up for it by playing at a high level. He’s an explosive player who can bring something new to the table as a pass-catcher, and Gruden has stated earlier this offseason that he likes what Thompson can do. This is a situation worth monitoring, because he is clearly on the roster bubble.