Detroit Lions: Rookie Contributions a Bright Spot in 2016 Season
By Zac Snyder
Dwayne Washington
As a seventh round draft pick and the tenth and final player of the draft class, the odds to make the Lions weren’t exactly in Dwayne Washington’s favor to even make it out of training camp. As such, my best-case scenario for him post-draft was just to flash enough potential to claim a spot on the 53-man roster heading into the season.
"Best-case scenario: Shows enough potential on offense and special teams in training camp to warrant a roster spot. Worst-case scenario: Doesn’t make it out of training camp and the Lions don’t bring him back on the practice squad."
He flashed in training camp to meet the high-end of expectations with some burst out of the backfield and kickoff return for a touchdown. However, that pretty much represents the high point for Washington’s rookie season.
Washington had an opportunity to blow even the loftiest of expectations out of the water when the Lions’ injury situation at running back gave him more playing time than expected. Washington’s two highest carry totals came in the first two weeks after Theo Riddick went out with an injury but failed to produce at the level the Lions needed. That saw Zach Zenner get the next opportunity, who did not relinquish the role as the Lions’ primary back.
Next: Detroit Lions 2016 Season Awards
Credit goes to Washington for sticking as a late-round pick and getting the opportunity he got, but the way things played out may mean we’ve already seen the best of Washington’s Lions career.