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Gus Edwards has paved an unlikely path from undrafted free agent to making the practice squad to becoming the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens, all since this past April. After having a productive final season at Rutgers last fall as a graduate transfer from Miami, Edwards has worked his way from NFL longshot to now being the featured back for a playoff contender.
After playing sparingly for four games after being called up from the practice squad in October, the Ravens are 4-1 in the past five contests that Edwards has received the majority of the carries out of the backfield. In that span, he has rushed 96 times for 486 yards, 5.1 yards per carry and 2 touchdowns. Edwards has amassed over 100 yards rushing in three of the five games.
This past Sunday, Edwards ran 19 times for 104 yards, including this 10 yard touchdown in the third quarter that proved to be the winning score for the Ravens in their 20-12 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The wheels on the Gus Bus go to the end zone @GodsGiftGus13 pic.twitter.com/YbCwBZ56ie
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 16, 2018
Despite acquiring former Green Bay running back Ty Montgomery in a trade midseason, Edwards has taken command of the backfield once Alex Collins was placed on injured reserve. Collins did play in Edwards breakout game against the Cincinnati Bengals in mid-November, but was outshined and only averaged 3.6 yards per carry this season. Edwards is 16 yards behind starting quarterback and former Heisman trophy winner Lamar Jackson for the team lead in rushing this season.
A key for Edwards is how efficient he has been with the football. He now holds the current active NFL streak of most carries without being tackled for a loss.
Not a bad way to start a career. @GodsGiftGus13 has the longest active streak in the NFL of carries without getting stopped for a loss. pic.twitter.com/47yw7xqhiR
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 16, 2018
Per the #Ravens, rookie RB Gus Edwards has 111 carries this year -- and has been tackled for a loss on 0 of them. He had 19 carries for 104 yards today and basically just ran over the exhausted #Bucs for the final five minutes.
— Bo Smolka (@bsmolka) December 17, 2018
After a 2017 campaign at Rutgers that Edwards led the team with 713 yards rushing and 7 total touchdowns, it’s nice to see him succeeding so early in his NFL journey. After having a solid, but unspectacular career at Miami, his decision to play his final college season at Rutgers has proven to be a great one for both sides. Best of luck to “Gus the Bus” during the rest of this NFL season and his career.