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Washington Redskins: Matt Jones back on the trade block

By Bryan Manning

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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Third-year Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones is back on the trade block, which means he’ll be an ex-Redskin by Saturday.

Remember back in the spring when disgruntled running back Matt Jones asked the Washington Redskins for his release or a trade? The team flatly refused Jones’ request and he skipped the majority of offseason activities in protest.

Jones did report for a mandatory minicamp in June and training camp. Unfortunately for Jones, he came to camp behind Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine, Chris Thompson and Mack Brown on the depth chart. And while he’s been a good soldier this summer, he hasn’t stood out in the preseason and has given the Redskins no reason to keep him around.

This preseason, Jones has carried the ball eight times for nine yards. Sure, it’s tough to get into a rhythm carrying the ball just two or three times per game. But when you’re on the bottom of the depth chart ,you better make something happen with your limited opportunities. Jones has not done that.

A big criticism of Jones since coming to Washington is that he doesn’t run like someone who is 6-2, 239 pounds. On Sunday against Cincinnati, one such play validated this critique.

Instead of Jones running the defensive back over, he tried to cut inside and the DB chops him down. He stood a better chance of getting into the end zone if he used his size and simply ran him over. A play like that would’ve opened eyes around the league. It didn’t happen.

So it’s no surprise, as cutdown day nears, the Redskins have put Jones back on the trading block, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

Why would any team trade for Jones at this point? There’s likely to be more talented players available on Saturday after the entire league trims their rosters to 53. But if a team does see value in the third-year back from Florida, they should offer Washington a conditional draft pick and bring him in.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Preseason Week 4

Don’t expect that outcome, though. Washington will cut Jones and move on from one of Scot McCloughan’s few mistakes during his time in D.C. Jones will quickly latch on with another team closing the book on the former third-round pick.

Some advice for that new team: Just don’t think you’re getting Marshawn Lynch.

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