Ceci Ferrara
September 4, 2014
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
With their final pre-season games behind them, the Washington Redskins finalized their 53-man roster on Saturday in advance of the NFL mandated 4 p.m. deadline. They got a head start on Friday, when they waived eight players and placed four more on the reserve lists. WR Leonard Hankerson and DE Stephen Bowen were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, and ILB Darryl Sharpton and NT Chris Neild on injured reserve. Brandon Merriweather, who was suspended two games due to an illegal hit during their pre-season match-up against the Ravens, was placed on the reserve/suspended list. His appeal of the suspension was denied over the weekend.
The Redskins made nine more moves to trim their roster to 53. They waived running backs Evan Royster, Lache Seastrunk and Chris Thompson, in favor of undrafted rookie Silas Reed. He joined Alfred Morris and Roy Helu, whose spots were never in question, as Washington’s third RB. He won the coveted third spot with his physical running style, as well as the protection he offered. “Silas is all-around running and blocking and catching,” new head coach Jay Gruden said. “His consistency was pretty good for a rookie.”
The decision was a surprise for many who expected the Redskins to keep at least one more
RB. They also didn’t expect it to be the undrafted rookie over sixth-round pick Seastrunk, or Thompson, who played for the Skins as a rookie last year, but has struggled with injuries.
“It’s not over for Lache,” Gruden said. “I’m sure somebody will get a look at him, and it could be us later on. But we felt like we went with the three running backs who did the best.” Thompson’s fate with the team seems a bit more likely, as they signed him to their practice squad after he wasn’t claimed on waivers. “We want Chris to come back and stay healthy for some time,” Gruden told reporters. “He could be activated sooner than later if he can prove he can stay healthy.”
The Redskins also waived wide receiver Nick Williams, offensive lineman Maurice Hurt, safety Phillip Thomas, cornerback Chase Minnifield and kicker Zach Hocker. They also released linebacker Everette Brown. The only other major surprise was that seventh round pick Hocker was let go in favor of Kai Forbath, whose kick-offs were spotty last season. But Forbath’s training camp and pre-season performance were enough to convince Gruden to keep him.
“We did the best thing that we could to make it fair for both of them,” Gruden said. “Quite frankly, Kai did a nice job. His percentage was higher in all of the kicks out there. In training camp, his percentage was a bit higher…So, hats off to Kai. He took the challenge, and I think he is a better kicker because of it.”
In the end, Gruden said that his roster selections came down to merit. “I don’t care where you’re drafted,” the new coach said. “You want to play the best guys.”
With their roster finalized, the Redskins are looking forward to playing a game that actually matters. Their first match-up will come on Sunday against the Houston Texans. All eyes will be on Robert Griffin III, who was named the starting quarterback, despite his inability to score a touchdown during the preseason. His preseason stats were dismal—13 of 20, with four sacks, two interceptions, and no touchdowns. Despite the numbers against him, Griffin remains optimistic that it wasn’t a true reflection of his abilities.
“The biggest thing everyone is saying is we didn’t score a touchdown in the preseason,” Griffin said Monday. “But as long as we score touchdowns in the regular season, that doesn’t matter. We had two solid games, and then we had a bad one and that’s what everybody remembers, and that’s fine. We’ll get that taste out of their mouths when we play Houston.”
