It looked like it could possibly be over for Jamison Crowder.
After playing wide receiver for eight seasons in the NFL and catching 415 passes, including 28 receiving touchdowns, Crowder was without a job.
The former Duke Blue Devil had been selected 105th overall in the 4th round of the 2015 draft by the Washington Redskins.
Crowder instantly contributed to the Washington offense, catching 59, 67 and 66 passes in the three seasons he teamed up with Kirk Cousins. However, in 2018, Cousins, not wanted by Bruce Allen and Daniel Snyder had fled to the Vikings via free agency. Crowder’s impact suffered. In addition, he was injured, only playing in 9 games, receiving 29 passes.
The former Redskins receiver then spent three seasons with the Jets (2019-21), catching 188 passes, including 14 touchdowns, and averaging 10.9 yards a reception.
In his age-29 season, Crowder saw action in only four games for the Bills, catching six passes for 60 yards.
His value declining, the Bills chose not to re-sign Crowder, and the Giants signed him on March 23 to a 1-year $1.3M contract through 2023. However, Crowder did not make it through the preseason cuts, being released on Aug. 29.
Commanders’ punt returner Dax Milne injured a groin in the preseason; Washington signed Crowder to the practice squad on Sept. 6, placed Milne on the IR (4-week minimum), and then elevated Crowder to the active roster.
Six games later, Crowder has only been targeted twice for two receptions for 21 yards and two first downs.
But, as a punt returner, Crowder is again contributing for Washington as he did in his initial four seasons in the league. In 2016 against the Ravens, Crowder returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown.
This season, Crowder has returned eight punts for 114 yards (14.3 per punt), which ranks 5th this season in the NFL. Sunday, in Atlanta, Crowder nearly went the distance with a 61-yard return, setting up a Washington touchdown. Crowder has returns already of 61, 20, and 14 yards.
Jamison Crowder = shot out of a cannonpic.twitter.com/smAld6RMHP
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) October 15, 2023
Milne was eligible to return from the IR list after four games. Yet, don’t look for Washington to hand over Crowder’s spot the way he is returning punts right now.
