Wayne Gallman needs a change of scenery.
He will not get it this week, unless a team out there wants to give up a (very) late-round draft pick for him. Otherwise, Gallman’s four-year contract as a 2017 fourth-round pick out of Clemson will expire after this season and he will look elsewhere to continue his stagnant NFL career.
There are enough flashes out of Gallman, 26, to indicate he can play in the league, in some capacity. He was intriguing as a rookie (111 rushing attempts, 476 yards, four touchdowns) to want to see more. Everything changed for Gallman when Saquon Barkley was the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft. Just like that, every other running back on the roster turned into a “breather’’ alternative whenever Barkley needed a break. Gallman did fine filling in last season when Barkley hurt his ankle — until Gallman went down with a concussion — but is again second-fiddle, this time to Devonta Freeman, with Barkley out for the season. Gallman gave the offense some life in last week’s loss to the Eagles.
“I just have to stay ready,’’ Gallman said. “That’s really the big thing with me, staying ready, staying locked into the game. Not trying to make it too big, but just sometimes, take the base hit and see what happens.’’
A good teammate, Gallman is popular in the locker room and has tried hard not be overcome with the frustration that comes with so much more sitting than playing.
“Honestly, I used to think that way but there is no reason to think that way,’’ he said. “I can’t really worry about all that because all that is not controllable. I just have to focus on doing my job and being Wayne.’’
He will in all likelihood be Wayne somewhere else in 2021.