Training camp is finally upon us. The Redskins report to Richmond on Wednesday and coach Jay Gruden will addresses the media in the afternoon. Practices are set to begin Thursday. In the coming weeks, the Redskins will eventually trim the roster from 90 players to 53. Before camp officially begins, here’s a projection of the final 53:
Quarterback
In: Alex Smith, Colt McCoy
Cut: Kevin Hogan
⦁ The Redskins went with two quarterbacks on the roster last season, so it’s hard to see them keeping Hogan. Smith is entrenched as starter and McCoy is a reliable backup.
Running back
In: Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson, Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine
Cut: Byron Marshall, Kapri Bibbs, Keith Marshall, Elijah Wellman, Martez Carter
⦁ This might be the toughest position to sort on the roster. The Redskins like Marshall and view him as a third-down back, which would be useful if Thompson isn’t fully healthy or gets injured again. Kelley is trying to restore his value after an injury-riddled 2017. Perine had a solid, but unspectacular rookie campaign. Guice will be the favorite to start, but he needs to secure it first.
Wide receiver
In: Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Paul Richardson, Maurice Harris, Robert Davis, Trey Quinn
Cut: Brian Quick, Shay Fields, Darvin Kidsy, Simmie Cobbs Jr., Cam Sims
⦁ There are three established receivers — Doctson, Crowder and Richardson — on the Redskins’ roster and there are questions about everyone else. Trey Quinn, this year’s Mr. Irrelevant in the draft, has shown impressive hands, while 2017 sixth-rounder Robert Davis continues to progress. Veteran Brian Quick could be the odd man out, though it wouldn’t be a surprise if he made the roster.
Tight end
In: Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Sprinkle
Cut: Manasseh Garner, Garrett Hudson, Matt Flanagan
⦁ It would be an upset if Garner, Hudson or Flanagan made the final 53. The coaching staff likes Sprinkle’s upside, while Reed and Davis aren’t being cut. Reed’s health will be an interesting storyline in camp after he was still rehabbing during OTAs.
Offensive linemen
In: Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, Geron Christian, Tony Bergstrom, Tyler Catalina
Cut: Alex Balducci, T.J. Clemmings, Casey Dunn, Kyle Kalis, John Kling, Cameron Jefferson, Demetrius Rhaney, Timon Parris, Isaiah Williams
⦁ Will the offensive line have better injury luck in 2018? Through OTAs, the Redskins were in recovery mode with Williams, Moses and Nsekhe working off to the side. But they are expected to be ready in camp. Elsewhere, left guard is still an uncertainty, even with Lauvao back in the fold.
Kicking team
In: Dustin Hopkins, kicker; Tress Way, punter; Nick Sundberg, long snapper
⦁ These jobs are set.
Defensive line
In: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Anthony Lanier, Ziggy Hood, Stacy McGee, Tim Settle
Cut: Phil Taylor, Tavares Barnes, Ondre Pipkins
⦁ There’s some intrigue for this group in how the rotations are set. Allen, Payne and Ioannidis are a formidable trio, if they start. McGee’s status is uncertain after undergoing groin surgery in the spring. Taylor, meanwhile, is an interesting wrinkle, considering he was set to start at nose tackle last year before suffering a season-ending injury in the preseason.
Outside Linebacker
In: Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Ryan Anderson, Pernell McPhee
Cut: Vontae Diggs, Jerod Fernandez, Alex McCalister, Pete Robertson
⦁ As they do with the defensive line, the Redskins are a fan of rotating their outside linebackers to keep them fresh. This is a big training camp for Anderson, a 2017 second-rounder who had a quiet rookie season buried on the depth chart behind Kerrigan, Smith and Junior Galette.
Inside linebacker
In: Mason Foster, Zach Brown, Martrell Spaight, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Josh Harvey-Clemons
Cut: Zach Vigil
⦁ Brown and Foster will be the starters and both signed new deals in the offseason. The backups behind them will compete for the other spots. Harvey-Clemons saw an increased role during OTAs, participating in nickel packages, and the team likes his upside. Coach Jay Gruden has praised Dion Hamilton’s football intellect. Spaight and Vigil are solid veterans who played well when Foster and Brown were out with injuries.
Cornerback
In: Josh Norman, Orlando Scandrick, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, Josh Holsey, Adonis Alexander
Cut: Greg Stroman, Ranthony Texada, Danny Johnson
⦁ Other than Norman as the No. 1, the depth chart for this group is very much up in the air. The Redskins need to replace the production of Bashaud Breeland and Kendall Fuller after losing them in the offseason. Outside of running back, this is probably the most compelling training camp battle.
Safety
In: D.J. Swearinger, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, Troy Apke
Cut: Quin Blanding, Fish Smithson, Kenny Ladler
⦁ Nicholson and Swearinger are set to be the starters. Everett is a valuable piece on special teams. Apke is a project, but his raw athleticism is undeniable. The fourth-rounder out of Penn State ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine. That would mean Blanding, Smithson and Ladler would be out, though Smithson appeared in two games late last season.
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