Pregame Primer: Can DeSean Jackson find his stride against New Orleans?

LANDOVER — The Washington Redskins will start the second half of the season on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints with a heightened sense of urgency.

The Redskins are 3-5 after the first eight games, just as they were last year before losing seven of their final eight contests in coach Jay Gruden’s first season.

Gruden and the Redskins are hoping to avoid a similar fate and that challenge starts on Sunday against the Saints. With games looming against the undefeated Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants, the Redskins know the importance of a win this week.

“You never feel comfortable at 3-5,” Gruden said earlier in the week. “I think there’s always got to be a sense of urgency no matter what your record is and we have that getting ready to play an excellent New Orleans Saints team historically. They can put up the yards. Their defense is excellent on third down, so it’ll be a great challenge for us. We can’t look beyond the New Orleans Saints. Each game is very important. Each rep we take at practice is very important. Every minute we spend in the meeting rooms is important and hopefully our guys understand that. So, you know, no rest for the weary, man. We’ve got to get up and play hard.”

In the last two games, the Redskins have been hampered by slow starts, something they hope to end on Sunday. They fell behind, 24-0, against Tampa Bay in Week 7 before staging a 31-30 comeback victory. They couldn’t do the same after trailing the New England Patriots, 17-0, in a 27-10 loss last week.

“We can’t keep digging ourselves into 17-0 holes and expect to have a successful season or games,” Gruden said.

With that, here are the logistics and three things to watch against the Saints.

Logistics

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Records: Redskins 3-5, Saints 4-5

Television: FOX Kenny Albert, play-by-play; Daryl Johnston, color; Laura Okmin, sidelines)

Radio: ESPN 980 (Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen, Chris Cooley, Doc Walker)

Weather: 59 and sunny

Lines: Saints -1.5, over/under 50 per Bovada

Projected Starters:

Redskins offense: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon, WR DeSean Jackson, TE Jordan Reed, TE Derek Carrier, LT Trent Williams, LG Spencer Long, C Josh LeRibeus, RG Brandon Scherff, RT Morgan Moses.

Redskins defense: DE Chris Baker, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Trent Murphy, ILB Will Compton, ILB Perry Riley, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CB Chris Culliver, CB Bashaud Breeland, CB Kyshoen Jarrett, SS Jeron Johnson, FS Dashon Goldson.

Saints offense: QB Drew Brees, RB Mark Ingram, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Willie Snead, TE Ben Watson, TE Michael Hoomanawanui, LT Terron Armstead, LG Tim Lelito, C Max Unger, RG Jahri Evans, RT Zach Strief.

Saints defense: DE Bobby Richardson, DT John Jenkins, DT Kevin Williams, DE Cameron Jordan, WLB Michael Mauti, MLB Stephone Anthony, SLB Hau’oli Kikaha, CB Delvin Breaux, CB Brandon Browner, SS Kenny Vaccaro, FS Jairus Byrd.

Injury report:

Redskins: Questionable — CB DeAngelo Hall (toe), ILB Keenan Robinson (shoulder), WR Andre Roberts (ankle), NT Terrance Knighton (headache); Probable — RB Chris Thompson (back), CB Chris Culliver (knee), DE Jason Hatcher (knee), CB Bashaud Breeland (hamstring), OLB Ryan Kerrigan (hand), C Josh LeRibeus (shoulder/back), FS Dashon Goldson (wrist/hamstring).

Saints: Out — LB Dannell Ellerbe (hip), LB David Hawthorne (hamstring), LB Ramon Humber (hamstring), CB Damian Swan (concussion); Questionable — LT Terron Armstead (knee); Probable — WR Marques Colston (not injury related), CB Keenan Lewis (illness), WR Willie Snead (knee), LG Tim Lelito (shoulder), LB Hau’oli Kikaha (ankle), DT Kevin Williams (not injury related), RG Jahri Evans (probable), CB Brian Dixon (hip).

Stats:

All-time record: The Redskins are 16-8 against the Saints.

Last regular-season meeting: Sept. 9, 2012: 40-32 win in New Orleans.

Three things to watch:

** The Redskins hope to get DeSean Jackson going against the Saints in his second game back since tearing his left hamstring in the season opener against Miami. Jackson returned last week against the Patriots, but did not provide the offense with the spark they were hoping for as he caught just three passes for 15 yards. Gruden said this week that it will take time for Jackson and Kirk Cousins to get on the same page and the hope is that starts this week against a Saints defense that allows a third-worst 292.2 passing yards per game. On Friday, offensive coordinator Sean McVay said Jackson is finally at 100 percent.

“Yeah, I think he is,” McVay said. “I think it was good for him to be able to get his first live, game action, feel comfortable opening up his stride and realize that, ’Hey, my hamstring is ready to go.’ He’s had a good week and he’s been full speed. We’re expecting some good things out of him on Sunday.”

** What type of play will the Redskins get from the center position on Sunday? Kory Lichtensteiger was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday after missing the last three games with a neck injury. Josh LeRibeus has started in Lichtensteiger’s absence, but has struggled with the accuracy of his snaps. LeRibeus converted from guard to center during training camp. The Redskins signed veteran Brian de la Puente this week, who has started 50 games in his career, 48 of which came as a member of the Saints from 2011-13. Gruden said that LeRibeus will start again this week considering de la Puente is still catching up on the Redskins’ offense, but it will ll be interesting to see if de la Puente plays if LeRibeus’ struggles continue.

“Good possibility he could be active for the game but I think the big thing is just getting him used to the calls and getting him back into playing shape, which doesn’t happen over two practices,” Gruden said. “We’re happy with the way Josh has been playing. We just needed a true center in the building, like I said, if something were to happen to him.”

** Will the Redskins be able to pressure Saints quarterback Drew Brees? Washington has just 13 sacks this season, the third-lowest total in the league. Joe Barry’s defensive unit has just one sack in the last three games since dropping Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan three times in a 25-19 overtime loss in Week 5.

“With any great quarterback, when you can affect the quarterback – and the great ones are hard to effect just because they’re so smart, they get their pre-snap keys, they do a great job with protection – but, absolutely, every single week we put a premium on getting after the quarterback, no matter who the quarterback is,” Barry said on Thursday. “When you’re playing against a guy like Drew, absolutely. Getting him off the spot, pressuring him and getting him uncomfortable, absolutely it’s a premium, no question.”