Following head coach Jay Gruden's press conference to finish the year, Redskins media members presented running back Chris Thompson with the 2017 "Redskins Media Good Guy Award."

Chosen annually, the award is given to a Redskins player who has best helped the media do its job.

In a season that saw Thompson break out as one of the most dynamic running backs in the game and then fall prey to a devastating leg injury later in the season that cut his 2017 campaign short, Thompson remained one of the most approachable and thoughtful players to interview on the team.

ESPN reporter John Keim, who has covered the team since 1994, presented Thompson with the news inside the Redskins' press conference room with a coterie of local reporters, each thanking him for his openness and availability throughout the entire season.

"Just like your game, you took it to another level this year," Keim told Thompson. "Every time someone had a question you were professional, accommodating and courteous…it was a phenomenal job."

Recently completing his fifth year with the team, Thompson rushed for 294 yards with two touchdowns and caught 39 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns in just 10 games before injuring his leg in the Redskins' matchup with the Saints.

"I just appreciate you guys not making it hard on me," Thompson said. "Y'all never put the pressure on me, you know I like to keep it real. I just appreciate y'all for not bringing the challenging questions my way and just allowing me to be me."

Before the season, Thompson signed a multi-year contract with the Redskins and his play exemplified the reasoning behind the team's decision.

"It was rough, not so much the way I was playing, or the numbers, it was more just the impact that I knew I had on my teammates, this offense, everything that I knew I had ," Thompson said of having to miss the final six games of the season. "That's the tough part of being injured, having to miss out…having to sit home and see it all unfold."

Since he received surgery in early December, Thompson has mostly been resting and moving around on crutches and will begin rehab shortly. Thompson said the estimated recovery time is four to six months and that he is on track to return before the start of training camp.

"It's been good," Thompson said of the rehab process. "It's been a little boring because I can't do much right now but play video games, which I thought I would really enjoy but it sucks now after doing it for a month and a half. But the body is feeling good. It's a slow process, no need to rush or forced anything."

Previous Redskins Media Good Guy Award Winners:

2016: Ricky Jean Francois

2015: Trent Williams

2014: Ryan Kerrigan

2013: Santana Moss & Darrel Young

2012: Lorenzo Alexander

2011: Lorenzo Alexander

2010: Carlos Rogers

2009: Andre Carter

2008: Pete Kendall

2007: London Fletcher & Jason Campbell

2006: Phillip Daniels & Santana Moss

2005: Renaldo Wynn

2004: Fred Smoot

2003: Champ Bailey

2002: Champ Bailey