Head coach Jay Gruden said Kelley deserves more carries, JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports. "I think you'll see more of Robert. I think Robert shows that he's deserving of some carries," Gruden said Monday. "You know, we like Matt Jones, but I think there's a good combination there where the both of them can get the ball."
Kelley, an undrafted rookie, has just eight carries and zero targets in four appearances, most recently rushing for 18 yards on three carries in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Ravens. Starting running back Jones entered Sunday with three straight games of 60-plus rushing yards under his belt, but he was then held to only 31 yards on 14 carries, albeit in a highly difficult matchup. While Kelley could see his role expand to some degree, there's nothing to suggest he's a real threat to Jones at the moment. Further limiting the rookie's upside, Chris Thompson has once again proven to be an effective passing-down back, ensuring himself of a large role in Washington's pass-first offense. Kelley is thus left as nothing more than a backup for early downs, essentially making him a deep-league handcuff for Jones.