Granted, they mostly came in the preseason, but Dwayne Washington showed in small bursts that he can be an effective NFL running back.
The Detroit Lions’ seventh-round pick out of Washington, he had the game-changing ability to score on a 96-yard kickoff return and 58-yard run in exhibition play, and he ran with a unique blend of power and fearlessness during the regular season.
But Washington’s role, after it expanded following season-ending injuries to Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick, was greatly reduced in the Lions’ final three games -- when, not coincidentally, left tackle Taylor Decker hinted that an unnamed player went “rogue” in the running game.