In the Redskins' two most recent preseason games, rookie cornerback Kendall Fuller is looking comfortable out on the field. Friday evening, he ended the game with an interception.
With the game on the line, Washington Redskins rookie cornerback Kendall Fuller made the first big play of his professional career.
Although it was just a preseason matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Fuller didn't want to let the opponent drive down the field for a game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.
With less than two minutes left in Friday's game, the Bills began their final drive of the evening from their own 34-yard line, down 21-16.
In just nine plays, the Bills were able to march down to the Redskins' seven-yard line with just 24 seconds left in the game.
On 1st-and-goal, Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel, a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, tried to find wide receiver Dezmin Lewis in the end zone, but Fuller jumped in the way of the target to force an incompletion.
Three plays later on fourth down from the 28-yard line, Fuller intercepted an underthrown pass to seal the victory for the Redskins.
"I remember giving up a third down play early in the game, I was kind of just getting myself mentally right," Fuller said of his performance on the final drive. Just be ready if it comes to me and I was ready to make a play."
And on that final play, Fuller – who racked up eight interceptions in 29 games at Virginia Tech – wanted to make sure it was clear that Manuel made a mistake throwing in his direction.
Check out images of cornerback Kendall Fuller during his first few months with the Washington Redskins.
"I think he was just trying to get it in the end zone and make a play, but we were able to get on it," Fuller said.
After securing the ball and confirming it was his, Fuller was mobbed by his teammates. The first one to congratulate him: fellow Hokie DeAngelo Hall.
"He's been seeing me since I was a little kid," Fuller said. "He was definitely excited to see me get my first (interception)."
With just one preseason game remaining before he makes his regular season debut next month against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fuller is still trying to show the coaching staff they can throw him into the fire even as a rookie.
He's been working with the first-team defense at the nickel cornerback positon while still taking reps on the outside, preaparing for a potental fill-in role if called upon.
"I'm feeling good," Fuller said. "Every game, every practice, I'm kind of getting my old habits back, learning something new. Like I said, just getting those old habits back and starting to get more consistent."
