Rams sign Chauncey Washington

[Lesson]

Rams grab Chauncey Washington from Jets

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 28, 2010 11:48 AM ET
The Jets' selection of Joe McKnight continues to pay dividends.

Two days after watching Leon Washington return two kicks for touchdowns, the Jets learned that running back Chauncey Washington was signed off their practice squad to St. Louis' active roster. Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the news.

Washington clearly outplayed McKnight in training camp and originally appeared to make the Jets roster. But the team later cut Washington and placed him on the team's practice squad.

Perhaps Washington's Hard Knocks publicity helped get him a job.

(Oh, and we can put the Larry Johnson-to-St. Louis rumors to rest now.)

Merge with my other thread if you'd like.

[RamsInfiniti]

Washington is a stout, and quick back. Saw some of him on Hard Knocks ...

Looks like Ryan was trying to "save" him on the practice squad for later use. Apparently a very good special teams player, but needed to come up to speed on grasping the offense ....

[RamsInfiniti]

Ok, so did some digging and talked to a friend who is a USC fan ...

Apparently, Chauncey was projected as about a 4th round pick or so, but some injuries, particularly to his knee and ankle in his senior campaign, knocked him down to a 7th round pick ...

He was in Marshall Faulk's list of top 10 backs in the draft ....

Chauncey is big, 220+ lbs, and 5-11, and ran in the 4.4's at the combine. Nice speed for a bigger back. Unfortunately, the kid appears to have no agility whatsoever, and is strictly a downhill runner. Has decent hands and runs ok routes ....

However, looks like he was brought in more as a special teams replacement for Curry than anything else. Apparently, this guy is an absolute assassin on special teams, and made several devastating hits in coverage during preseason. This is what apparently earned him a spot with the Jets ...

His IQ has been questioned, as is his ability to pick up an NFL playbook. This could be what has kept him off the field in the NFL ...

On paper, looks like a nice pickup ...

UPDATE! FWIW, Chauncey ran a 4.35 at his USC pro day ...

[Lesson]

Looked at a Jets message board, a few people were upset by Washington leaving because they thought he deserved a roster spot over McKnight.

[MauiRam]

RB Chauncey Washington headed to St. Louis


BY JIM THOMAS | Posted: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 11:10 am

It looks like help in the St. Louis Rams’ backfield is on the way in the form of running back Chauncey Washington from the New York Jets’ practice squad. The Rams are bringing in Washington today, and assuming he passes his physical he will be added to the active roster.

Washington, 25, was part of a heralded 2003 recruiting class at Southern California that included Reggie Bush and LenDale White. But injuries and academic problems slowed his career with the Trojans.

He did lead USC in rushing in both the 2006 and ’07 seasons, albeit for relatively modest totals of 744 yards (in ’06) and 969 yards (in ’07). Washington was a seventh-round draft pick by Jacksonville in ’08, appearing in six games for the Jaguars as a rookie, mainly on special teams.

Last season, he bounced back and forth between the Dallas practice squad and active roster, appearing in two games. He was eventually signed off the Cowboys’ practice squad onto the New York Jets active roster late in the ’09 season.

In Jets camp this preseason, he was praised by coach Rex Ryan on the "Hard Knocks" television series on HBO. Washington is known as a hard-hitting special teams player and a tough runner.

His career totals in the NFL: four carries for nine yards; one receptions for nine yards; and four special teams stops.

Presumably, Washington would take wide receiver Dominique Curry’s spot on the active roster, with Curry out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Washington probably could help right away on special teams and will provide insurance in the backfield where the status of Steven Jackson (groin) and Keith Toston (shoulder) is uncertain for Sunday’s home game against Seattle.

Looks like another smart signing by Billy D. More bang for his bucks grabbing a solid special teams player who can fill in as a rb in an emergency.

[berg8309]

Looks like a special teams pickup, still wouldn't mind a vet back though.

[txramsfan]

This could be one of those signings where the guy just needs a chance and not buried in the depth chart. I remember him at USC, he had his moments.

[GameTime]

Was this guy that couldnt remember his kids names on hard knocks?

[RealRam]

Right now this is good 'spare parts' move. Hopefully CW will prove himself to be more that that.



Best wishes to you. Let's get up to speed pronto.

[Rich86]

with leon washington's success in seattle i think it's a wise choice to add a washington to our team as well.

[DPskywalker]

Nice pickup to replace Curry.

He has to be the oldest looking 25 year-old on the planet.

[txramsfan]

Greg Oden has him beat.

[RAMFANRAIDERHATER]

His IQ has been questioned, as is his ability to pick up an NFL playbook. This could be what has kept him off the field in the NFL ...

A graduate of USC?

Go figure.....

[shower beers]

Was this guy that couldnt remember his kids names on hard knocks?

That was Cromartie, wasn't it?

[TheBritishRam]

Was this guy that couldnt remember his kids names on hard knocks?

I think you're thinking of Antonio Cromartie.