LANDOVER — Kapri Bibbs dreamed about playing for the Washington Redskins — literally. Bibbs, who spent most of the season on the street as a free agent, said he woke up one morning and texted a friend that he had a dream about playing for the Redskins.
Bibbs’ dream eventually came true, being added to Washington’s practice squad on Nov. 24. And on Sunday, in Bibbs’ first game of the season, the running back scored a 36-yard touchdown in Washington’s 20-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
“I’m trying to stop smiling, but at the same time, I’ve been through a lot,” Bibbs said. “This is just a blessing. I know God made everything happen for a reason.”
Bibbs was promoted to the Redskins’ 53-man roster on Tuesday after the team placed Byron Marshall on injured reserve. Bibbs stepped into the role of being Washington’s third-down back, which initially belonged to Chris Thompson before he broke his fibula in New Orleans.
Running back has been a position where the Redskins haven’t been able to stay healthy. Bibbs became Washington’s sixth running back to catch a pass this season.
Bibbs, an undrafted 2014 free agent, spent the first three years of his career with the Denver Broncos in a reserve role. Before being signed by the Redskins, he was training in Orlando to stay ready in case a team came calling.
The Redskins finally did, but he wasn’t signed for an additional two weeks after his initial tryout.
But against the Cardinals, Bibbs made a difference. On the screen pass, the running back sold the run fake and then beat a number of defenders down the field once he caught the ball. It helped make up for a false start penalty Bibbs was called for to start the drive.
“I think it says a lot for [running backs coach] Randy [Jordan] trying to get these guys ready to play,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “But also for Kapri to come in here and really be diligent about learning what he had to do.”
The Redskins’ offense rely a lot on running backs in the passing game, both in running routes and in pass protection.
“This is my fourth year in the NFL,” Bibbs said. “I know I was on the streets for 10 weeks, but I’ve seen quite a few defenses. As long as I can get with my coaches and they can help me understand our protections like coach Jordan does do every single day, he made it a lot easier for me.”
Bibbs said the call from the Redskins came three weeks after his dream.
“I told [my friend] that I had a dream about the Redskins and he was like, ’Boy, you know how good that would be?’” Bibbs said. “… I was like, ’Yeah I know. I want it bad.’”
He proved it against the Cardinals.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.