Commanders add former Alabama player for Thursday game
The Washington Commanders will have running back Brian Robinson Jr. and defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in their lineup on Thursday night when they take on the Chicago Bears.
In addition to those former Crimson Tide standouts, Washington will have another Alabama alumnus available on Thursday night.
· LIONS’ JAMESON WILLIAMS AIMING TO MAKE 2023 DEBUT ON SUNDAY
· NFL FEATS BY DERRICK THOMAS, HARLON HLL FINALLY MATCHED
On Thursday afternoon, the Commanders elevated running back Derrick Gore from their practice squad with running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. downgraded to out for a second straight game.
Gore also came up on Sunday for Washington’s 34-31 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He got on the field for six offensive snaps and 19 special-teams plays for his first NFL regular-season action since the 2021 season.
Each NFL team can elevate two players from its practice squad to active status for each game.
The Commanders and Bears are scheduled to kick off at 7:15 p.m. CDT Thursday at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Prime Video will televise the game.
As a walk-on at Alabama, Gore gained 108 yards on 24 rushing attempts in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He scored once for the Crimson Tide, running 10 yards for a touchdown in Alabama’s 54-16 victory over Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3, 2016. Gore also blocked a punt in that game, and Josh Jacobs picked up the bouncing football and returned it for a Tide touchdown.
After transferring to Louisiana-Monroe, Gore ran for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns on 295 carries and caught 34 passes for 254 yards and one TD in two seasons before trying to catch on in the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2019.
Gore was released five times by NFL teams before he played in his first NFL regular-season game.
Gore played in 11 games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, when he ran for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries and caught eight passes for 105 yards.
Gore has been released three times since then – once off injured reserve by Kansas City after a preseason thumb injury sidetracked his 2022 season – before joining Washington’s practice squad on Aug. 30.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.