鈥?Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden doesn’t expect to go looking for another running back after losing promising rookie Derrius Guice to a torn ACL in his left knee in the preseason opener.“We have guys that are here and in play Eric Ebron Jersey ,” Gruden said, noting that the Redskins drafted Guice because he was the best player available in the 59th spot, “not because we weren’t satisfied with the backs we have.”The contenders as the No. 1 back now start with Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine.Kelley, with 16 starts in two seasons, missed most of last season with a variety of injuries but ran for 704 yards and six touchdowns in 2016. Perine made eight starts last season and became the first Redskins running back with consecutive 100-yard performances since Alfred Morris in 2013. He had 603 yards and one TD last season.Nonetheless, the Redskins’ 90.5-yard rushing average was fifth-worst in the NFL, and Guice was looked at as a great find in the second round. Projected as a first-round pick, his stock fell amid reports of character concerns.Gruden said none of those ever surfaced and he looks forward to Guice being 100 percent next season.“We’re obviously very upset for Derrius. He’s put a lot of work in and (had) a very promising rookie season ahead of him, but unfortunately these injuries happen,” Gruden said. “… We had high hopes for him and what he could do for this football team and what he would accomplish his rookie year as a person and all that good stuff.”Instead, he’s hoping Kelley, Perine or veteran third-down specialist Chris Thompson, who is recovering from a broken fibula last season, can create as much excitement.“I’ve been impressed with both of those guys,” Gruden said about Kelley and Perine. “A lot of talk has been on Derrius and deservedly so. He’s had a great camp and OTAs, but Rob Kelley has lost a little bit of weight. He looks quicker in the hole to me and Samaje just looks more comfortable to me. He had a couple nice licks in the game the other night.”An increased opportunity was secondary in Kelley’s mind after practice Saturday.“It’s real tough C.J. Uzomah Jersey ,” Kelly said about Guice’s injury. “He brought an energy I can’t even explain to the room. I feel like everybody in the room feels a certain type of way about that. Just want to go out there and compete for him.”Kelley, based on his own experience with injuries, also offered Guice some advice.“I just told him to come back stronger than ever, show people what they’re missing out on,” he said.Star linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said he learned about Guice’s status Friday when he came to the team’s practice facility, and “it kind of took me a couple of minutes to get going with my workout and whatnot. … He was the focal point of ‘Skins camp, I would say, so far. I mean, people were wondering how many yards this guy’s going to rush for and if they should pick him for their fantasy team. Things like that. People were really excited for him.”In the interim, the season goes on, and the Redskins running backs and everyone else will get to show their stuff against a different team in the next three days as the New York Jets come to Richmond for joint workouts.“The Jets have a great run defense. They always have,” Gruden said. “… So, just to get a different look, different perspective on how they do things, different speed at linebacker, safeties are very Joel Bitonio Jersey , very good over there so, we have to account for them. I mean there’s a lot of things that they do differently that we’ll have to account for and it’ll be interesting to see how we adjust. So, running backs, offensive linemen, tight ends in the running game, receivers in the running game. So, I think everybody will get a good-great challenge against these guys.”Notes: The Redskins signed tight end J.P. Holtz, linebacker Jeff Knox and defensive lineman Jalen Wilkerson, waived fullback Elijah Wellman and placed Guice and tight end Manasseh Garner on their reserve-injured list. … Gruden said defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis has a slight sprained ankle and a slight knee strain and is listed as week-to-week, but added: “Matt’s a tough guy and he’ll probably get back here tomorrow. He’s a nutjob.” … The Jets’ arrival means Terrelle Pryor will be back in Richmond. Pryor caught 20 passes last season for the Redskins, but was hobbled by injuries.
Derrick Johnson’s tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs is coming to an end.

The franchise’s career tackles leader and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, Johnson will become a free agent when his contract expires at the start of the new league year March 14. He intends to keep playing, it just won’t be in the familiar red, yellow and white of the Chiefs.

”I love Kansas City and this fan base. They’ve always had my back,” Johnson said in a statement put out by the Chiefs, who made the rare decision to announce publicly that Johnson would not be returning.

That in itself speaks volumes to how much Johnson has meant to the organization.

”I’m grateful I had the opportunity to spend 13 years in a place I love Chidobe Awuzie Jersey ,” he said. ”I plan on playing for several more years because I love the game so much, but I look forward to retiring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when my career is over.”

Johnson was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2005, though his career got off to a rocky start. At one point early on, he found himself riding the bench, and was even labeled a bust.

But Johnson eventually earned his starting job back, and went on to appear in 182 games with 169 starts. He piled up 1,262 tackles to easily shatter the franchise record, had 27 sacks and picked off 14 passes, returning four of them for touchdowns.

He had a career-best 179 tackles in 2011, when he was voted the Chiefs’ team MVP.

”Few players in recent history have meant more to the Chiefs franchise and the Kansas City community than Derrick Johnson,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said.

”His tireless work ethic and passion for the game made him one of the most productive defensive players to ever wear a Chiefs uniform and one of the most respected players both in our locker room and around the league.

”Over the last 13 seasons, Derrick represented himself and the Chiefs organization with integrity and class, and he will always be a part of our Chiefs family.”

Johnson piled up his impressive stats despite missing part of two seasons with ruptured Achilles tendons. He returned from the first one as good as ever, earning his most recent Pro Bowl trip in 2015, but the second seemed to finally take a step out of his legs this past season.

He slowly lost playing time to younger teammates in the middle of the Kansas City defense.

”I’m grateful I had the opportunity to coach a player like Derrick,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in a statement. ”He’s a passionate football player and a natural leader. I value the amount of quality work he put in every day for us Cory Littleton Jersey , including teaching our younger players what it means to be a pro.

”I think he will make an incredible coach when he is done playing the game, if he chooses.”

The Chiefs have been trying to get younger the past couple of seasons, particularly on defense, and Johnson is unlikely to be the last veteran to go. Fellow linebacker Tamba Hali has been dealing with bad knees for years, and the Chiefs are expected to release him in the coming weeks.

Johnson signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension in 2016, but he had restructured the deal a year ago to help the Chiefs free up salary cap space. In doing so, he voided the final year, and that made it simple for the Chiefs to move on.

His loss will be felt not only on the field, but in the locker room and community. Johnson often served as a team spokesman, always showing up at his locker to speak with reporters regardless of whether the team was winning or losing. And the role he played in mentoring young players, such as linebackers Reggie Ragland and Ukeme Eligwe, should help the organization for years to come.

”Letting go of a player like Derrick is particularly tough because of how much respect I have for him as a player and a person,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said. ”He’s had a tremendous career in Kansas City and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

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