Here is what you need to know on this Sunday, August 6, 27 days before the Washington Redskins cut their roster to 53 on September 2.
Timeline
The Redskins last played a game 217 days ago; they will open the 2017 season against the Eagles at FedEx Field in 35 days.
Today’s schedule: Walkthrough 10:35; Jay Gruden press conference 2:45; Practice 3:00; players available after both practices.
Days until:
—Preseason opener @ Ravens (8/10) 4
—Preseason vs. Packers at FedEx Field (8/19) 13
—Sunday night Raiders @ Redskins (9/24) 49
RELATED: Must-see photos from Redskins training camp
Redskins sock up-down
RICHMOND—It gets late early in an NFL training camp. We are now less than four weeks away from the roster cut to 53 and now players have only a couple of days to get ready to show that they deserve some snaps in the preseason opener. Here are some players whose stock has gone up so far and some who are headed in the wrong direction.
Stock up—Yes, last week I had QB Nate Sudfeld with his stock down and his future in doubt. But the nature of this exercise is a snapshot of what things look like at a given moment. This week he seemed to get rid of a stutter step that slowed his delivery down and, not surprisingly, his passes were on target more often.
Stock down—A lot of fans were looking forward to G Arie Kouandjio pushing Shawn Lauvao for a starting job. The prospect was a long shot from the beginning and the odds grow longer every day. Kouandjio hasn’t been any worse than he has been his first two years in the league but he hasn’t improved significantly, either. At this point, if the 2015 fourth-round pick doesn’t improve the Redskins will be looking elsewhere for a replacement if Lauvao leaves as a free agent in 2018.
MORE: ROB KELLEY IS BACK TO REMIND YOU OF HIS TALENT
Stock up—Last week, rookie C Chase Roullier got a day with the starters as Spencer Long was out with an illness. He looked like he belonged for the most part and his shotgun snaps were largely on the money. The next day Jay Gruden spoke as though the sixth-round pick’s presence on the 53-man roster is a given.
Stock down—Perhaps it’s not fair to give OLB Preston Smith this designation because he is out with an ankle injury. But he was healthy until recently and he just hasn’t generated the sizzle hoped for out of the 2015 second-round pick. Smith is getting seriously upstaged by Junior Galette and is very much in jeopardy of losing his starting job to a player who is four and a half year older and coming off of two years on the sideline.
Stock up—While I’m not sure that the stock of WR Ryan Grant could get any higher in the eyes of Gruden, the fourth-year player is taking advantage of extended playing time with Jamison Crowder out with a hamstring injury. He has had opportunities after injuries during previous seasons before and he hasn’t produced. We’ll see what happens if he gets a chance this year.
Stock down—Rookie RB Samaje Perine isn’t in danger of falling off the radar or anything. But right around the time that Gruden said that the two most important things his running backs had to do were pass protect and protect the ball, Perine had major gaffes in each area. He will learn but his last week should make everyone pump the brakes on any notion that Perine will start Week 1 over Rob Kelley.
Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page Facebook.com/TandlerCSN and follow him on Twitter @Rich_TandlerCSN.
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In case you missed it
- Jordan Reed injury timetable remains very uncertain
- LIVE Redskins training camp practice blog--Day 8
- Defensive roster projection after a week of camp
- Redskins week that was: Pryor's catch, ups and downs