The Redskins have placed starting running back Rob Kelley and linebacker Will Compton on Injured Reserve while signing running back Byron Marshall and defensive lineman Caraun Reid to the active roster.
The Washington Redskins announced on Tuesday that they have placed running back Rob Kelley and linebacker Will Compton on Injured Reserve along with waiving defensive lineman Brandon Banks.
In corresponding moves, the team signed free agent defensive lineman Caraun Reid along with running back Byron Marshall off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad.
Additionally, defensive lineman Tavaris Barnes has been released from the practice squad.
Kelley and Compton both suffered their injuries during Washington's 38-30 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
On a 1st-and-goal run in the second quarter, Kelley landed awkwardly after being tackled low by safety Andrew Sendejo before being wrapped up by defensive end Stephen Weatherly.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden confirmed on Monday that he re-aggravated a high ankle sprain while also suffering an MCL sprain on the play.
Kelley recorded 62 carries for 194 yards and three touchdowns on a season in which he was in and out of the lineup with various injuries.
The Tulane product, of course, entered his second season as the team's starting running back after recording 168 carries for 704 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie.
With Kelley sidelined, the Redskins will look to Samaje Perine to fill the void at the feature back spot. The 2017 fourth-round pick is currently averaging just 3.2 yards per carry (210 yards on 66 attempts), but Gruden believes his fresh legs and powerful running style could be an issue against tired defenses late in the season.
"By looking at him at Oklahoma and what we've seen from the little bit of him here, [he's] probably better as the game goes on," Gruden said. "I think he's the type of guy that can wear down a defense and then his low center of gravity will take over and he'll be able to bounce off some tackles."
Joining Perine and Chris Thompson at the running back position is Marshall, who appeared in three regular season games with the Eagles last season, recording 19 carries for 64 yards along with three receptions for 10 yards.
In 42 games at the University of Oregon, the 5-foot-9, 201 pounder recorded more than 3,000 scrimmages yards, as he rushed for 1,877 yards along with tallying 1,293 receiving yards.
He also recorded 27 total touchdowns while becoming the first player in Pac-12 history to record 1,000-plus career rushing yards and 1,000-plus career receiving yards.
In 2013, Marshall recorded 1,038 rushing yards before collecting 1,003 receiving yards on 74 catches the next season.
Compton, meanwhile, is being placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a Lisfranc sprain against the Vikings.
After playing a reserve role behind Mason Foster to start the season, Compton started the past two games for Washington against the Seattle Seahawks and Vikings.
Against the Seahawks in Week 9, the 28-year-old recorded season highs in tackles (nine), passes defensed (three) and interceptions (one).
In the absence of both Compton and Foster – who was placed on Injured Reserve last month – the Redskins will look to greater production out of third-year Arkansas product Martrell Spaight.
Spaight already has a career-high in tackles (36) through nine games this year.
Reid, 25, joins the Redskins after spending time with both the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers during his four-year career.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft of Princeton, Reid has appeared in 34 games recording 36 tackles along with three sacks, two passes defensed and two fumbles recovered.
Reid joins Terrell McClain, Stacy McGee, Ziggy Hood, Matt Ioannidis and Anthony Lanier II along the defensive line on the active roster.
