The biggest name on Washington’s offense is quarterback Kirk Cousins. But in 2017, another player is starting to make a name for himself, and that’s 5’8, 191-pound running back Chris Thompson.
Who is Chris Thompson, Washington’s breakout running back?
He’s been a force in 2017.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Thompson was electric in Washington’s 27-10 win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 3. He caught six passes for 150 and a touchdown and added eight carries for 38 yards on the ground. For some viewers, the Sunday Night Football matchup was the first time they were introduced to the 26-year-old.
Who is Chris Thompson?
Thompson is a running back for Washington’s NFL team who was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft out of Florida State.
In his career as a Seminole, Thompson carried the ball 277 times for 1,735 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, his time at Florida State wasn’t all that pleasant. His final two seasons with the ‘Noles ended early due to injury. Thompson broke two vertebrae in his junior year and then tore his ACL as a senior.
Injuries followed him to the NFL. Once he was drafted by Washington, he started having shoulder issues and eventually underwent surgery for a torn labrum after the 2015 season. He didn’t play a full 16-game season until last season, his fourth year in the league. But now he’s healthy — and he’s showing what he’s capable of.
What’s his role within the Washington offense?
Thompson’s not going to get a heavy volume of carries in the backfield for Washington. But he’s found a place for himself as a versatile weapon who can do a little of everything: he’s the change-of-pace back, a pass catcher, a blocker, and a kick returner.
Head coach Jay Gruden explained Thompson’s role recently, via the Associated Press:
“He’s not a guy that I personally want to give him 30 carries a game,” Gruden said. “He’s a very valuable guy in the role that he’s in: third down and he’s also one of our kick-returners and he does a lot of get-back-on-track calls on second down and long and there’s some first-down plays that he’s in.
He’s basically going to do what Washington needs him to do, and he’s done it well so far during the 2017 season. Through the first two weeks, Thompson has three of the team’s four offensive touchdowns on the season, and is the team’s leader in all-purpose yards with 196.
When you’re making plays like this, those stats are even easier to believe:
Thompson’s rushing and receiving stats are fairly even, but his biggest play so far this season came on the ground: a 61-yard touchdown run against the Rams, which had been the longest in the NFL in the first two weeks.
His teammates love what he’s brought to the table.
“Chris is one of our best players and is a tremendous asset to our offense because he is so versatile,” Kirk Cousins said, according to the team’s official website. “He can pass protect. He can catch the football. He can run good routes. He is a smart player. He is a good teammate. He runs the ball well. He can hit the home run. He can make people miss.”
“A lot of things we do, we wouldn’t be able to do without him,” left tackle Trent Williams said Wednesday via the AP. “He’s one of the biggest mismatches we have when it comes to those third downs and to those obvious pass downs. He’s an outstanding talent.”
Sunday night wasn’t Thompson’s first time on a big stage, but it could be where he finally became a star.
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