Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, August 28, three days before the Redskins cut their roster down to 53 players.
Barnes trade good news for Thompson
When the news that Kevin Barnes had been traded to the Lions came out, many said that it was good news for rookie cornerback Richard Crawford. The departure of Barnes apparently clinches a roster spot for the rookie out of SMU.
But it says here that the trade was even better news for Brandyn Thompson. It appeared that Crawford had moved ahead of the Thompson, who is in his second NFL season, for the fifth and likely final cornerback spot. Crawford may already have locked up a roster spot prior to Barnes’ departure while Thompson was on the bubble.
If the Redskins keep five corners as expected, they are likely to be DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Cedric Griffin, Crawford and Thompson. Veteran Morgan Trent was waived with an injury settlement and it looks like first-year player Travon Bellamy and veteran David Jones are on the outside looking in.
Thompson appeared in six games last year but he played just four snaps on defense. He did not do much to stand out during training camp either positively or negatively but the team likes his potential and might give him another year to see what he can do.
Brown’s situation not a surprise
Nobody can be surprised that Jammal Brown will start the season on the PUP list and will not be eligible to play for at least the first six weeks of the season.
In fact, the surprise will come if and when Brown puts on Redskins uniform this year. Or ever.
Even if Brown gets healthy and is ready to play in the first six to nine weeks of the season, the window during which he could be activated off of PUP, it is hard to see Mike Shanahan trusting that he will stay healthy. The situation is bad enough as it is. The worst-case scenario would be for the Redskins to activate Brown in mid-October, put him into the starting lineup, and then have him either sidelined with the hip injury again or have his effectiveness impaired by the injury.
The five-year, $27.5 million contract the team gave Brown a year ago complicates matters. By all indications there is no injury protection for the team in the contract even though it was known that his hip was an issue when the deal was signed.
Today’s schedule
Due to the short week, we have rare media availability the day before a game.
—11:50 practice (closed to the
media after first 30 minutes)
—After practice (approx. 2 p.m.)
open locker room and Mike Shanahan news conference.
In case you missed it
RG3 says he’s ready to go.
Evan Royster says he feels better and hopes to play vs. the Bucs.
The Redskins are sticking with Graham Gano as their kicker.
Days until: Preseason finale Bucs @ Redskins 1; final cuts 3; Redskins @ Saints 12; home opener vs. Bengals 26; Super Bowl XLVII 159
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