For the second time this week, the Washington Redskins enhanced their special teams depth after signing former Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Terence Garvin on Thursday.
The Baltimore native has played the last three seasons with Pittsburgh after going undrafted out of West Virginia. He had 29 tackles in 36 games for the Steelers and also played 50 percent of their special teams’ snaps in 2015. Garvin had eight special teams tackles last season, which ranked third on the Steelers. On Tuesday, the Redskins also signed strong safety David Bruton, a former special teams ace for the Denver Broncos.
Garvin and Bruton can give the Redskins good depth on special teams, especially after they decided not to bring back veteran fullback Darrel Young. Although Young’s role on offense decreased sharply, he played a team-high 310 special teams snaps, or 68 percent.
Washington also announced the signing of running back Chris Thompson on Thursday. Prior to the start of free agency, Thompson, an exclusive-rights free agent, received his tender from the team. Thompson played in 13 games in 2015 and had offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
Serving primarily as the team’s third-down back, Thompson had a breakout season with 35 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 35 times for 216 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per carry.
Former Redskins running back Alfred Morris remains an unrestricted free agent, so it is likely the team will add a veteran to the backfield to compliment Matt Jones and Thompson. Jones rushed for 490 yards and three touchdowns on 144 carries in his rookie season and is ticketed to be the lead back, though the team would like to see him improve his ball security after he fumbled five times last season.
Thompson injured his shoulder in Week 13 and missed the next two games. The Redskins signed veteran Pierre Thomas, who contributed as Washington advanced to the playoffs. Thomas, 31, also remains a free agent.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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