Washington Redskins coaches spent the summer touting their newly-established depth at the receiver position. Last year’s group wasn’t good enough to scare opposing defenses, so they added five new receivers via the draft, free agency and trades. The new corps, they said, was replete with players whose unique talents would challenge defensive backs and bring out the best in each other.
As it turns out, the coaches didn’t want to break up the group during final cuts. Seven receivers, not counting return specialist Brandon Banks, remained on the team after the Redskins trimmed their roster to 53 players to meet the NFL’s 6 p.m. Saturday deadline.
Fifth-round rookie Niles Paul and eight-year veteran Donté Stallworth joined third-round pick Leonard Hankerson, second-year veteran Terrence Austin and front liners Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong on the team.
The moves, which the team waited until 9:30 p.m. to announce, included few, if any, surprises.
Seventh-round rookie Chris Neild beat out Anthony Bryant for the backup nose tackle job. He is one of only six defensive linemen the Redskins kept, a number that could increase with a transaction or two before Sunday’s regular-season opener against the New York Giants.
John Beck and Rex Grossman were the only two quarterbacks to make the team. The Redskins cut Kellen Clemens and Matt Gutierrez to free a roster spot for another position.
Fullback Mike Sellers made the team after the Redskins played him at tight end during training camp and the preseason.
It was an inauspicious sign for the 11-year veteran, but it might have saved him from being cut. Tight end Chris Cooley missed the entire preseason with a knee injury, and his status for the regular-season opener is uncertain.
Eight of the Redskins’ 12 draft picks made the team, and second-round rookie defensive end Jarvis Jenkins (right knee) was put on injured reserve.
Free safety Kareem Moore (right knee) will begin the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list and must sit out the first six games.
Veteran safety Chris Horton and inside linebacker Horatio Blades were the longest-tenured players to be released.
Horton, a seventh-rounder in 2008, struggled in pass coverage at times during training camp and the preseason. He was plagued by injuries in past years but made it through camp healthy this summer. His block helped spring Banks’ 95-yard punt return for a touchdown in Thursday’s preseason finale,
Blades, a sixth-round pick under coach Joe Gibbs in 2007, did not expect to make the team after the Redskins re-signed Rocky McIntosh and signed veteran free agent Keyaron Fox during training camp. He ranked sixth on the team last season with 11 special teams tackles.
Tackle Willie Smith was the only undrafted free agent to make the roster. Veteran guard Artis Hicks was released after the Redskins failed in their attempt to trade him.
The entire roster is as follows:
The Redskins’ 53-man roster:
QUARTERBACKS (2): John Beck, Rex Grossman
RUNNING BACKS (5): Tim Hightower, Ryan Torain, Roy Helu*, Darrel Young, Mike Sellers
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Armstrong, Leonard Hankerson*, Niles Paul*, Terrence Austin, Donté Stallworth
TIGHT ENDS (3): Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Jammal Brown, Erik Cook, Sean Locklear, Willie Smith
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Adam Carriker, Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Kedric Golston, Darrion Scott, Chris Neild*
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, Rocky McIntosh, Keyaron Fox, Perry Riley
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan*, Lorenzo Alexander, Rob Jackson, Markus White*
CORNERBACKS (5): DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, Kevin Barnes, Byron Westbrook, Brandyn Thompson*
SAFETIES (4): LaRon Landry, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes*
SPECIALISTS (4): Brandon Banks, Graham Gano, Sav Rocca, Nick Sundberg
Physically-unable-to perform list: FS Kareem Moore (ineligible for the first six games)
Reserve/suspended list: CB Phillip Buchanon
Reserve/injured list: DE Jarvis Jenkins*
*Indicates 2011 draft pick
On Saturday, the Redskins cut the following players:
QB: Kellen Clemens, Matt Gutierrez
RB: Evan Royster*, Keiland Williams, Shaun Draughn
WR: Aldrick Robinson*, Isaac Anderson
TE: Tony Curtis, Derek Schouman
OL: Artis Hicks, Maurice Hurt*, Selvish Capers, Clint Oldenburg, Donovan Raiola
DL: Anthony Bryant, Jeff Stehle, Doug Worthington
LB: Horatio Blades, Thaddeus Gibson, Edgar Jones
CB: Reggie Jones
S: Chris Horton, Anderson Russell, Davonte Shannon
*Indicates 2011 draft pick
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.