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Washington Redskins: Matt Jones is still surprisingly relevant

By Donny Starr

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 09: Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins runs with the ball in the fourth quarter during a football game against the Baltimore ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 09: Matt Jones #31 of the Washington Redskins runs with the ball in the fourth quarter during a football game against the Baltimore ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones can make the final 53-man roster — if he wants to.

Matt Jones still runs with explosiveness and unnerving speed that sends defenders into a panic. That was never the problem for the Washington Redskins running back. The problem was holding on to the ball in the process.

His request to be released, along with the team’s plans to move on from him are probably being reviewed as we speak. This revelation comes after the Redskins’ 23-3 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Watching rookie Samaje Perine Thursday night proved only one thing: He’s a rookie. He’s the No. 3 back behind Chris Thompson and Rob Kelley on the Redskins unofficial depth chart, but that could change if he doesn’t pick up the pace.

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CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Rich Tandler summed it up in a few words:

"“He removed all doubt tonight even though he did lead the team in rushing with 15 yards on six carries. But he also fumbled once (he recovered), dropped a pass, and didn’t have a good sense for where to run much of the time. He will learn but he is not going to push Rob Kelley out of the starting lineup anytime soon…”"

Jones can take full advantage of Perine’s performance, bumping fellow running back Mack Brown out of the conversation and make the cut. The problem is that’s not what Jones wants. He wants to be the starter, something that won’t happen with the Redskins.

He had his opportunity rising from the shadows of former Redskins running back Alfred Morris. Now he has to focus on having a job.

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If Jones wants to given any NFL team a reason to give him a second or third look, he needs to play hard in the preseason. This is the time everyone is playing for a position on the roster. Even if he doesn’t want to be in the nation’s capital anymore, he can’t let it show on the field if he wants to be anywhere at all.

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