Cousins finds rhythm against reserves as Redskins beat Bills

“When they are right, we’ll protect them in practice”, head coach Jay Gruden said of his injured running backs.

Now the Washington Redskins’ unquestioned starting quarterback, Cousins isn’t concerned about the light workload heading into the third preseason game Friday night against the Buffalo Bills.

Marshall, a rookie and a seventh-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, left the game after awkwardly landing and injuring his left elbow on his first carry of the game.

It was a sloppy sequence late in the second quarter of the Washington Redskins’ 21-16 victory against the Buffalo Bills on Friday night at FedEx Field, but the offense ultimately achieved what it set out to do.

“He hasn’t got a whole lot of clean looks and opportunities in the games, but we’ve seen it out here in practice”, McVay said.

As veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams noted, “We were a little surprised (at not playing) but the guys who were held out are experienced and get their work in and (Ryan) knows that”. “He found the creases, he moved forward”.

Kelley stood out to everyone, except maybe himself. Kirk Cousins didn’t play last week for Washington, but should see time tonight. But I’m not sure any player on the roster has earned a spot more than him.

“We’ve been working hard out there and things weren’t going our way in the beginning”, Reed said. RB Matt Jones (shoulder), RB Chris Thompson (undisclosed), Baker (hamstring) and WR Jamison Crowder (knee) didn’t play. Gruden gave Kelley rave reviews before players put on the pads and with contact liked more of what he saw from the 6-foot, 228-pounder who can shift direction without wasting energy. The rookie out of Arkansas ran for 42 yards and the only Buffalo touchdown.

One of the biggest position battles has been at wide receiver.

Kelley was strong in that department, too, taking care of plenty of Buffalo blitzes, though he acknowledged room for improvement.

“If you look at the interception, it was the product of a defensive back making a good play on a tight throw, the ball bounces up in the air and it lands where it lands”, said Cousins. [Ty] Nsekhe had an illegal hands to the face which I think was a great call. Our team has done well to this point in the preseason. Throw in the blocking and it’s probably enough to show he should be ahead of second-year back Mack Brown on the depth chart and could be an every-down runner if required. However, New York only ran the ball nine times.

The missed tackles were a theme for both teams last night.