Undrafted Gus Edwards Emerges As Late-Season Force For Ravens

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https://www.pressboxonline.com/2018/12/19/undrafted-gus-edwards-emerges-as-late-season-force-for-ravens

Still, the odds were long for Edwards, who received a modest $6,000 signing bonus. The Ravens had three returning running backs in starter Alex Collins, Buck Allen and Kenneth Dixon. De'Lance Turner and Mark Thompson had also signed as undrafted rookies, so Edwards found himself battling for a roster spot that might not even be there.

"Even though it was a deep [running back] room, we were given a lot of opportunities," Edwards said.

The undrafted trio got an extended look through a training camp that was itself extended by the Hall of Fame Game. Edwards led the Ravens in rushing during the preseason with 53 carries for 174 yards, but when training camp ended, the three incumbent running backs remained, and all three undrafted rookie backs were released.

Edwards and Turner were quickly signed back to the practice squad, but when Dixon went down after Week 1 with a knee injury, it was Turner, whose 65-yard touchdown run against Miami in the preseason seemingly vaulted him ahead of Edwards on the depth chart, who was promoted from the practice squad.

Only when Turner got hurt in mid-October and was placed on injured reserve was Edwards finally moved to the 53-man roster as the No. 3 back.