Rookie Jamison Crowder will handle punt return duties for the Washington Redskins, and third-year pro Chris Thompson will return kickoffs, Coach Jay Gruden announced on Thursday.
Crowder, a wide receiver taken in the fourth round out of Duke, shined in college, earning first-team All-ACC status as a return specialist in both 2013 and 2014, averaging 16.0 and 12.7 yards respectively on punt returns. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Crowder did well fielding punts in practice for Washington, but because of a hamstring strain appeared in only one preseason game. On his lone return, Crowder gained four yards.