ASHBURN — The past few days have been hectic for newly signed Washington Redskins cornerback Will Blackmon.
He got a phone call at his Seattle home at 6:30 a.m. on Monday from Alex Santos, the Redskins’ director of pro personnel, that the team was interested in working out the free agent corner.
Blackmon, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks during their 53-man roster cutdown on Sept. 5, boarded a plane that night, worked out on Tuesday and was signed that day.
“I packed a big bag,” Blackmon said. “I didn’t plan on coming home.”
Though he’s hardly settled in, Blackmon said he plans on playing in some capacity on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. The Redskins signed the nine-year veteran to add depth to the secondary with Chris Culliver suspended and Justin Rogers out with a foot injury.
Blackmon is familiar with Redskins defensive backs coach Perry Fewell, who coached him on the New York Giants in 2010 and 2011.
“My thing I learned over the years is when in doubt, just play fast,” Blackmon said. “They simplified it for me where I’m not in there trying to learn a bunch of whole crazy stuff. The game plan is pretty good. My number is called I’ll be ready to go.”
Blackmon, who worked as Seattle’s primary slot corner in the preseason, said he did not expect to be cut by the Seahawks.
The night before he was informed of the decision, he had just moved into a house with his wife and two kids — a 4-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter.
“We just moved into a house and then that morning as I’m like unpacking the last box, I get the call,” Blackmon said. “But we like the house there, so it’s all good. That’s what I was doing, getting that ready. My son starts school the next week so I was just being a dad, training, that’s it.”
Coach Jay Gruden praised Blackmon’s progress this week.
“He’s pleasantly a very bright man,” Gruden said on Thursday. “He knows football. He’s played a lot of football in his day. He’s picked up this system very fast. He’s going to play some, no question about it. How much, I don’t know yet. It just depends on what type of packages they’re in and we’re in at the time.”
Based on the thinning depth in the defensive backfield, whatever capacity Blackmon is used in this weekend should help the Redskins.
• Anthony Gulizia can be reached at agulizia@washingtontimes.com.
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