Ladell Betts is a powerful and versatile back who has contributed in a variety of ways during his seven NFL seasons with the Redskins. He has complemented Clinton Portis since 2004 and they have developed into one the most productive pair of running backs in the NFL. In 2008, Betts appeared in 13 regular season games and combined for a total of 393 yards from scrimmage. He signed a five-year contract extension on December 8, 2006.
How Acquired: Selected by the Washington Redskins in the second round (56th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
Pro:
Played in 93 career games with 11 starts and three postseason contests
Career totals include 2,966 rushing yards on 720 carries (4.1 avg.) and 11 touchdowns.
Posted 148 career receptions for 1,326 yards (9.0 avg.) with three touchdowns
Totaled career highs in rushing yards (1,154), receptions (53) and total touchdowns (5) in 2006
Enters the 2009 season ranked 10th in club history in rushing yards (2,966) and seventh in club history in kickoff return yards (2,033)
2008 Season (WAS):
Played in 13 regular season games, inactive for three games due to a knee injury
Totaled 206 rushing yards on 61 carries (3.4 avg.) and one touchdown
Caught 22 passes for 200 yards (9.1 avg.)
Posted a season-high 44 rushing yards on nine carries, including consecutive carries of nine and 14 yards, at Philadelphia (10/5)
Scored on a 1-yard touchdown run against Seattle (11/23)
2007 Season (WAS):
Played in all 16 regular season games and one postseason contest
Totaled 335 rushing yards on 93 carries (3.6 avg.) and one touchdown
Hauled in 21 catches for 174 yards (8.3 avg.) and one touchdown
Had a 14-yard touchdown run at N.Y. Giants (12/16)
2006 Season (WAS):
Appeared in all 16 regular season games with a career-high nine starts
Tallied career highs in rushing yards (1,154), receptions (53) and total touchdowns (five)
Finished eighth in the NFC and 13th in the NFL with 1,154 rushing yards
Tied a franchise record with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season (Clinton Portis, 2005; Rob Goode, 1951)
Recorded 33 rushes for a career-high 171 yards (5.2 avg.) in Week 13 vs. Philadelphia (12/10)
Rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries (4.4 avg.) and two touchdowns during Week 15 at New Orleans (12/17)
2005 Season (WAS):
Appeared in 12 regular season games; missed four contests because of a knee injury
Totaled 89 carries for 338 yards (3.8 avg.) and a touchdown
Added 24 kickoff returns for 621 yards (25.9 avg.)
Had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown (at Tampa Bay, 11/13)
2004 Season (WAS):
Finished the season with 90 carries for 371 yards (4.1 avg.) and a touchdown
Caught 15 passes for 108 yards (7.2 avg.)
Also finished the season as the top kickoff returner with 23 returns for 528 yards (22.9 avg.)
Finished with 13 special teams tackles
2003 Season (WAS):
Appeared in nine regular season games with one start
Compiled 255 yards on 77 attempts (3.3 avg.) and a then career-high two touchdowns; also caught 15 passes for 167 yards (11.1 avg.)
Missed seven games because of a fractured left forearm which he suffered in his first career start at Buffalo (10/19)
Contributed three kickoff returns for 59 yards
2002 Season (WAS):
Had 65 rushing attempts for 307 yards (4.7 avg.) and a touchdown
Caught 12 passes out of the backfield for 154 yards (12.8 avg.) with a long of 40 yards vs. New Orleans (10/13)
Had 28 kickoff returns for 690 yards (24.6 yard) and a long return of 60 yards
Led Iowa in rushing for four consecutive years
Named second-team All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches following his senior season at Iowa
Started every game, extending his consecutive string to 42 contests
Carried 222 times for 1,060 yards (4.8 avg) with 10 touchdowns as a senior
1,060 yards rank eighth on the school’s season-record list
All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention as a junior and was a recipient of the team’s Coaches Appreciation Award
Earned numerous honors at Blue Springs (Mo.) High, including USA Today Missouri Player of the Year, first team All-State and All-Metro honors, as well as Parade and SuperPrep All-America
