Brandon Banks silenced the second guessers again — but maybe not the doctors. The Washington Redskins returner has long been told he was too small at 5-foot-7, 155 pounds in a sport with lineman more than twice his weight. No matter — he became one of the NFL’s top returners as a rookie last year.
Now Banks may be caught in a numbers game with eight players seeking six receiver slots. No matter — he used smart cuts and patience to return a kickoff 58 yards and a punt 19 yards against Pittsburgh on Aug. 12 seemingly to seal a spot — if he’s healthy.
Banks’ knee is a concern following surgery last year. He will miss Friday’s game against the Colts because of knee soreness and is going to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, the renown sports surgeon.
“I love reading bad things about me,” Banks said last week. “A little bit pressure and chip on my shoulder. I play better as a person who’s underestimated.”
Unfortunately, bad things weren’t confined to the field. Banks suffered a collapsed lung when he was stabbed outside a D.C. nightclub on Feb. 12. Banks said he was defending a friend when Lanham resident Jason D. Shorter stabbed both, according to police. Shorter was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. He was arrested again in May on gun charges during a traffic stop.
“I just learned bad situations, just walk away from them,” Banks said.
Banks gained 10 pounds over the offseason, though the roster still says 155 pounds. Maybe he’s that legitimately now.
“I don’t want to put too much weight on,” Banks said. “[Coaches] don’t want [me] to put much weight on. I want to be the same lightning-fast Banks as I can be.”
Indeed, Banks is reminiscent of former Redskins returner Speedy Duncan, who was supposedly 5-10, 180 pounds. Maybe standing on a podium with bricks in his pockets. Duncan spent the final four of his 11 NFL seasons with the Redskins, reaching the Pro Bowl in 1971 after averaging 26.8 yards on kickoffs and 10.6 yards on punts.
Banks had never heard of Duncan but liked that someone small like him was once a Redskins returner. Banks averaged 25.1 yards on kickoffs last season and 11.3 yards on punts. He opened the 2010 preseason with a 77-yard touchdown punt return, but fumbles later sent him to the practice squad before he was activated in Week 3.
Banks had a 51-yard punt return in his regular-season debut. He later gained a team-record 271 return yards against Detroit after scoring on a 96-yard kickoff return.
Still, Banks has to earn the job again, so he reeled off two smart returns against Pittsburgh just to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Now he just has to get healthy.
“[Banks] has the ability depending on the height of the kick,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He breaks one tackle, he has the ability to go the distance.”
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
