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Roy Helu | Running Back

Team: Washington Redskins
Age / DOB:  (24) / 12/7/1988
Ht / Wt:  5'11' / 216
College: Nebraska
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Roy Helu (Achilles', toe) expects to be a full participant in next week's minicamp.
Helu made it through two days of OTAs without incident this week, and finally appears healthy enough to fight for a roster spot. With Helu, there's always the possibility of a setback, but he should be 100 percent for camp as he tries to earn third-down duties. Jun 7 - 1:12 PM
Source: Washington Post

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Player News

Date:
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Roy Helu (Achilles', toe) practiced Thursday for the first time this offseason.

Helu is coming off February surgery to repair the left toe injury that limited him to three games last season. If he makes the Redskins' final roster, it will be as a third-down back.
Source: Mike Jones on Twitter
Jun 6 - 10:59 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu (Achilles' tendon, toe surgery) "expects" to be ready for training camp.

The injury-prone 2011 fourth-rounder is sitting out OTAs after undergoing surgery in February. Helu isn't worried about the Redskins drafting two running backs. "I can’t control that, and I can’t blame them," Helu said. "I got into the procedure late, so you’ve got to plan (for the future). I don’t blame our organization at all." CSN Washington believes Helu and No. 154 pick Chris Thompson are fighting for the same roster spot. Helu isn't going to get any breaks in camp.
Source: Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
May 27 - 10:54 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu (Achilles', toe) is sitting out OTAs.

He's doing rehab work on the side. Helu is in danger of losing his roster spot just two years after being a fourth-round pick. As a rookie, he rushed for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games late in the season. Ever since, Helu has been unable to say healthy, and Alfred Morris has seized the starting job.
Source: Washington Post
May 24 - 1:57 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

CSN Washington believes Roy Helu and No. 154 pick RB Chris Thompson are competing for the same roster spot.

The same is true of Evan Royster and No. 228 pick Jawan Jamison. Thompson and Helu are both change-of-pace type runners, while Royster and Jamison rely more on vision and power. Jamison is the longest shot of the four, but Helu's roster spot will very much be in danger if he doesn't report to camp 100 percent healthy and stay 100 percent healthy.
Related: Evan Royster, Jawan Jamison, Chris Thompson
Source: CSN Washington
May 19 - 11:37 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Roy Helu (toe surgery) recently suffered a setback, but is "nearly 100 percent."

It's unclear how that works, but coach Mike Shanahan wasn't concerned at his Wednesday presser. It's just another reminder of Helu's fragility. Helu will battle Evan Royster for third-down duties in camp.
Source: Washington Examiner
Apr 24 - 6:07 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu underwent surgery on February 5 to repair damaged cartilage in his left big toe.

Helu got hurt in Week 1 last year and tried to play through the turf toe-like injury, but was placed on I.R. on September 26. "There was damaged cartilage that was causing the problem, but it wasn’t showing up on anything," said Helu. "Thankfully we found it and now it’s gone. The road to recovery since February has been a lot better." Helu resumed running Tuesday and hopes to participate in May OTAs "without limitations." He has a shot to be the Skins' third-down back this year.
Source: CSN Washington
Apr 5 - 5:40 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Coach Mike Shanahan said he is now optimistic on Roy Helu's recovery from turf toe.

Shanny conceded that it didn't look good on Helu for a while. That suggests a severe case of turf toe, one that lingered well into the offseason even though he landed on injured reserve in September. Helu's recovery and the Redskins' possible pursuit of a change-of-pace back will be worth watching this offseason. Shanny said he believed Helu could "help us out a lot in the third down package."
Source: Rich Campbell on Twitter
Mar 20 - 10:28 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

The Redskins expressed some interest in Reggie Bush before he signed a four-year, $16 million contract with Detroit.

Washington couldn't afford Bush, but the short-lived pursuit suggests interest in a change-of-pace back with passing-game chops. Roy Helu would be an in-house candidate for that role, but is coming off a severe turf toe injury. It's fair to wonder if the 2011 fourth-round pick remains in the Shanahans' 2013 plans.
Source: Washington Post
Mar 15 - 10:54 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu (injured reserve) is still having problems with his turf toe injury.

Helu's condition has improved, but it's a concern that he's still having pain. Although he's been jogging, he still can't sprint. Helu does expect to be ready for OTAs, though it sounds like skepticism is advised. Following Alfred Morris' emergence as a bell cow, Helu's future is as a change-of-pace back.
Source: Washington Examiner
Jan 7 - 9:35 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins placed RB Roy Helu (turf toe, Achilles') on injured reserve, ending his season.

This won't dispel the coaching staff's concerns over Helu's durability. He was bothered by an Achilles' tendon issue during training camp and then picked up turf toe in Week 1. He slipped to third string behind Alfred Morris and Evan Royster, getting just nine touches for 47 yards in three games. Helu, under contract through 2014, will be back next year to fight for snaps in the fluid Redskins' backfield. He's been replaced by veteran plodder Ryan Grant on the depth chart. Alfred Morris remains the clear-cut starter.
Wed, Sep 26, 2012 11:41:00 AM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu has been diagnosed with turf toe and is day to day.

He was in a walking boot after Sunday's game. Helu entered Sunday's Week 3 loss to the Bengals as the clear third-stringer. He got some action on passing downs after Evan Royster (knee) left, posting three catches for 20 yards. But without his burst, there's not much reason for Mike Shanahan to give Helu more snaps right now. He remains a mere stash.
Source: Redskins on Twitter
Mon, Sep 24, 2012 06:11:00 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Redskins RB Roy Helu had just one catch for zero yards in Sunday's loss to the Rams.

Helu was barely on the field, and appears to be the low man on the Redskins' running back totem pole. For now, his role is limited to third downs, but that could change at any moment. We're still monitoring this very fluid situation.
Sun, Sep 16, 2012 09:06:00 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Roy Helu rushed twice for two yards and caught three passes for 25 yards in Week 1.

Helu was Shanahan's third-down back in obvious passing situations and even lined up out wide on a couple of occasions when Alfred Morris was in the backfield, but if today was any indication, Helu isn't going to be a serious fantasy option soon. As we know, though, things can change at the drop of a hat with Mike Shanahan calling the shots. We will be keeping a close eye on the Redskins running back situation throughout the season.
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 05:29:00 PM
Roy Helu - RB - Redskins

Chris Cooley admitted last season that not even he, as a Redskins player, had a solid grasp on which running back would be starting on a week-by-week basis.

Cooley recalled an experience early last November, when the Redskins were about to play the 49ers. "I walked up to (Ryan) Torain in the locker room and said, ‘Dude, you’re starting on my fantasy team this week. And I’m hoping for a big week. I’m playing my wife," Cooley said. "And he’s like, ‘Oh, cool man. Yeah, I’ll see what I can do." Roy Helu started and totaled 141 yards on 24 touches. "I’m in the locker room and I don’t know who’s starting," Cooley said. "So, it’s kind of a mixup and I’m not exactly sure what we’re doing or who’s going in."
Source: CBS Washington
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 06:49:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Robert Griffin III
2Kirk Cousins
3Rex Grossman
4Pat White
RB1Alfred Morris
2Evan Royster
3Roy Helu
4Chris Thompson
5Jawan Jamison
GLB1Alfred Morris
2Evan Royster
3RB1Alfred Morris
2Evan Royster
FB1Darrel Young
2Eric Kettani
WR11Pierre Garcon
2Santana Moss
3Devery Henderson
4Aldrick Robinson
5Skye Dawson
WR21Josh Morgan
2Leonard Hankerson
3Donte' Stallworth
4Dezmon Briscoe
5Lance Lewis
WR31Santana Moss
TE1Fred Davis
2Logan Paulsen
3Jordan Reed
4Niles Paul
5Emmanuel Ogbuehi
K1Kai Forbath
2John Potter