LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Chris Thompson is quickly becoming a matchup nightmare.
The versatile third-down back has four of the Washington Redskins’ seven offensive touchdowns this season and will be a handful for the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) next Monday night. Thompson had 150 yards receiving and a touchdown plus 38 yards rushing in Washington’s 27-10 thumping of the Oakland Raiders (2-1) on Sunday night, a testament to coach Jay Gruden’s play-calling and his value to the Redskins’ offense.
“He can line up in the backfield, he can spread them out wide, he can catch the football,” receiver Jamison Crowder said. “He definitely gives you mismatches against the defense. He’s just a great player. He has the speed. He’s not that big of a guy, but he has the speed, the toughness and he just makes plays.”
Thompson has been a headache for defenses early in the season with 231 yards receiving and 119 rushing. Kansas City can only hope it limits Thompson like it did Darren Sproles in Week 2 when the Philadelphia back had two catches for 30 yards and 10 carries for 48.
Even though coach Jack Del Rio said the Raiders were aware of what Thompson could do, they left him wide open at times, and he made them pay. Thompson had a 74-yard catch-and-run to go along with his 22-yard touchdown reception.
“Coach Gruden, he’s been doing such a great job at his play-calling and being able to get me in some good situations where I’m in 1-on-1 matchups, then it’s my job to win,” Thompson said. “They’re paying me to win my 1-on-1 matchups and to make plays, be a spark for this offense.”
Thompson has been the ultimate spark even with just 14 carries. Gruden knows the 26-year-old wants a bigger share of the workload, but he and quarterback Kirk Cousins don’t want to take away from Thompson’s multifaceted abilities.
“We have to make sure Chris stays healthy this year because it’s really hard to find a guy who can pass-protect, make people miss, help me with the pass game, catch the ball,” Cousins said. “He is the total package.”