Here’s more evidence that the development of Jamison Crowder is changing the equation for the Redskins offense: Six weeks into the season, Pro Football Focus has revised its preseason wide receiver corps rankings and moved the Redskins up.
The stats-based website site now has the Washington pass catchers rated second-best in the NFL, up from No. 3 prior to the season opener, thanks to the emergence of three downfield wide receiver targets in Crowder, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon.
Combine that with two top tight ends — red zone specialist Jordan Reed and the resurgent Vernon Davis — and Washington has moved ahead of the Arizona Cardinals, behind only the New England Patriots.
Reed, who missed last Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, has broken six tackles this season, the second-most among tight ends, according to PFF. Reed has already compiled 316 yards on 33 receptions, which ranks in the top 3 in the NFL among all tight ends.
Jackson is already well ahead of his pace of targets and receiving yards in his injury-shortened 2015 season, and Jackson’s numbers are looking more and more like his 1,169-yard Redskin season in 2014. While his projected season output is 888 yards and three touchdowns, Jackson is well on pace to pass his total targets, meaning Jackson could easily pick up the pace statistically in the latter half of the season as long as he keeps getting the ball.
Crowder has already passed his rookie totals in touchdowns (two), with three receiving and one on a punt return. Crowder has also emerged as one of the most effective third receivers in the NFL with strong downfield presence.
Garçon has always been a reliable receiver, and Redskins’ quarterback Kirk Cousins clearly has trust in him. With 43 targets on the year, Garçon is Cousins’ most popular receiver.
In total, the three wide receivers have combined for 923 yards, and, according to PFF, they have just two drops between the three of them, making them an incredibly reliable unit.
No. 1 on the sites still belongs to the Patriots’ unit, a group led by Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan and featuring tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett.
INJURIES: Coach Jay Gruden said Wednesday it’s too soon to know if Reed, who sat out Sunday with a concussion, will take the field this weekend against the Detroit Lions.
“Yeah, he is going to see our team doctor today. He did a little bit more today and then Friday he’ll see the independent doctor,” Gruden told reporters at Redskins headquarters in Ashburn. “We’ll know more really after Friday. We’ve just got to continue to progress him along and see how he’s feeling after more of a workload.”
Reed was limited in practice on Wednesday and revealed he knew he suffered the concussion during a recent game but didn’t tell anyone.
He suffered a concussion on a hit to the back of the head in the third quarter against the Ravens on Oct. 9, but stayed in the game.
Reed reported symptoms — nausea, irritability and “a pretty bad headache” — to the team on Tuesday and was asked to undergo testing.
“I took the concussion test and did pretty bad on it,” Reed said.
This is the sixth concussion for Reed dating back to college. Reed isn’t taking this one lightly now.
“A concussion is a concussion,” he said. “You’ve got to take it serious every time and make sure you fix it.”
⦁ This article was based in part on wire reports.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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