The arrival of running back T.J. Duckett yesterday from the Atlanta Falcons put a smile on Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs’ face but scowls on the players who could have their roles downsized.
Following practice yesterday, Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright — and to a lesser extent, Clinton Portis — were all unsure how the addition of Duckett would affect them.
But after the three-team trade was made official at 7:30 p.m., Gibbs said Portis’ recovery from a dislocated left shoulder is “ahead of schedule,” Betts and Cartwright will be on the 53-man roster and fullback Mike Sellers’ role won’t change.
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“We think we’ve got very good backs, and it has nothing to do with them. It was us having the chance to add a really good football player,” Gibbs said.
Shortly after Portis was injured at Cincinnati on Aug. 13, the Redskins began exploring options to acquire Duckett, who will be a free agent after the season and has been stuck behind Warrick Dunn in Atlanta.
“You get an injury like that to somebody that has been a rock for us in there all the time, it causes you to think,” Gibbs said. “We feel like Clinton will hopefully start for us against Minnesota [in the Sept. 11 regular-season opener]. We weren’t in a panic to do something.”
Even though Gibbs explained the trade to Portis, Betts and Cartwright, the three players appeared agitated yesterday afternoon.
For Portis, it could mean fewer carries and fewer touchdowns because the 6-foot, 254-pound Duckett specializes in short-yardage work — six of his eight touchdowns last year came from 1 yard out.
“I don’t question nothing anymore, let’s get that right,” Portis said. “I don’t question nothing. My role is as a player. I accept that role.”
Portis disagreed that Duckett will fill the Redskins’ bruising-back void.
“I’m a bruiser, too,” Portis said.
Betts will start Saturday night at New England but will be the team’s third-string running back once Portis returns and Duckett gets up to speed.
“I don’t understand it, but it’s a business, and it is what it is,” Betts said. “Right now, I have to be the No. 1 back, and I have no clue of their plans for him, so everything remains to be seen.
“It definitely took me by surprise because we thought we had our group here already. But I guess they felt like they needed to make an addition.”
Sellers developed into a goal-line receiving threat last year (seven touchdowns) and had three carries for 26 yards against the Jets last week.
Gibbs said he didn’t call Sellers on Tuesday night “because it’s not really Mike’s spot. … If he keeps running the ball like [he did Saturday], we’ll keep giving him carries. All those guys are going to be on the football team.”
Sellers did yeoman’s work last year lead-blocking for Portis inside the 10-yard line and also as a receiver. And during the offseason, he worked on his running back technique. Now, it’s likely those bulldozing duties will go to Duckett.
Cartwright is probably out of the running back rotation, but his special teams play should keep him on the roster.
“Now I’m thinking what’s next for me,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s a team sport, but it looks like I might be the odd man out. … I really don’t feel I’m on the bubble because I have the tape that proves I can play in the league. If they let me go, that’s their choice.”
Duckett, 25, has 31 career touchdowns and a 3.9-yard average on 552 carries. His best season was 2003 when he started 10 games, scored 11 touchdowns and averaged 4 yards a carry. An ankle injury slowed him last year.
“Since the offseason, I’ve been hearing different rumors, and I’m glad it’s settled,” Duckett said. “One week, my name was in trade talks; the next week, it was off. It was like a yo-yo. I’m glad I can get back to playing again.”
Duckett is expected to practice today, but his status for the New England game is undetermined.
The Redskins have two preseason games to get Duckett up to speed and define the roles of their other backs.
“It means more competition for all of us,” Portis said. “We are going to have to step our level of play up, and it’s going to be the toughest guy [who’s] on the field.”
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