Redskins anticipate adding tackle as they bring in Donald Penn

RICHMOND — The Washington Redskins met with Donald Penn on Thursday evening as they search for a veteran left tackle to help shore up the left side of their offensive line.

Penn, 36, will work out for the Redskins on Friday, coach Jay Gruden said. The three-time Pro Bowler played in just four games last season with the Oakland Raiders, spending most of the year hurt with a groin injury. The Raiders released him in March.

The Redskins are in need of help at left tackle with seven-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams holding out and second-year tackle Geron Christian recovering from a torn MCL.

Gruden said he hopes to add a veteran tackle at some point, even if it’s not Penn.

“We’re short tackles now,” Gruden said. “We need another tackle. The young tackles out there, really there aren’t many of them out there, so you might have to go the veteran route. There’s a few guys we might talk to here in the future, just for the depth wise. Right now, we’re at 12 offensive linemen that are practicing — that’s way too short right now in training camp.”

Christian has not practiced since tearing his knee last November. Gruden initially said that the 22-year-old was cleared for training camp. But after the team’s conditioning test, the Redskins made a decision to hold out Christian for the next few days to have him spend more time with the strength and conditioning staff.

Without Wiliams and Christian, the Redskins have been primarily using Ereck Flowers at left tackle. The team lost veteran Ty Nsekhe to the Buffalo Bills in free agency.

“Obviously in training camp, you’ve got to get these guys schooled up multiple positions because when you dress seven on game days, some guys might have to play tackle and guard,” Gruden said. “At the end of the day, we would like to have a solid five offensive linemen that we know who are playing where on the first play of the game. Right now, we don’t have that at this time, but we’ll get there.

“But I do anticipate bringing another veteran guy in here at some point.”