Browns running back Willis McGahee returned to practice this week after missing last Sunday’s loss to the Bears because of a concussion and it looks like he’ll be able to return to the lineup for the final two games of the season.
McGahee turned 32 in October, he’s averaging 2.7 yards per carry and didn’t get a job for this season until September when the Browns traded Trent Richardson, so some people are wondering whether or not these will be the final two games of his professional career. According to McGahee, we’re a long way away from reaching that point.
“I want to play four more years,” McGahee said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “That would give me 15 years. This would come from a guy who was never supposed to play again. My back has always been against the wall.”
McGahee makes a reference to the serious knee injury he suffered in his final college game, which caused him to miss his rookie season with the Bills as people wondered if he could still be a productive back. He ran for more than 1,000 yards in three of the next four years (getting 990 yards in the fourth) to answer that question and touch off a long career with Buffalo, Baltimore, Denver and now the Browns.
After all that, it’s understandable that McGahee wants to go out on his own terms. Players don’t always get that chance, though, and McGahee might have another extended wait this offseason before finding out if he’ll get a chance to continue playing.