Jay Gruden christened Redskins Training Camp 2018, which officially opens in Richmond on Thursday, with his ceremonial first press conference of the new season.
Hope springs eternal and optimism abounds, as the slates are wiped clean for what promises to be one of the deepest Redskins rosters of the Gruden era. The Redskins enter camp with battles at five key positions, the fiercest of which should play out at running back and middle linebacker.
TRAINING CAMP BLOG: WEEK 1
Gruden is 0-4 in season openers and has flipped the script in Richmond this year, shifting contact practices to mornings for the first time in his Redskins coaching tenure.
106.7 The Fan columnist Rick Snider predicts a 1,200-yard rookie season for second-round pick Derrius Guice.
"Who's the odd man out in the crowded backfield?" he asks. "I wouldn't cut Rob Kelley just yet after a solid offseason."
The Redskins made their first roster move of training camp on Wednesday, announcing they'd waived third-year running back Keith Marshall with an injury settlement and signed free agent defensive back Prince Charles Iworah, a seventh-round pick (Western Kentucky) in 2016. Iworah appeared in one game for the 49ers in his rookie season, and after spending most of 2017 on injured reserve, was released in Dec. 2017. He signed a futures contract with Kansas City in Jan. 2018 and was later waived in May.
Coincidentally enough, Iworah – selected 249th overall – came off the board just seven picks after Marshall, selected 242nd overall by the Redskins in 2016. Now Iworah takes Marshall's roster spot.
This marks the last time I'll be able to relay about Marshall what I was told by a coach when he was drafted:If you run a 4.39 and are good at football, you don't get drafted in the 7th round.Kid never had got the chance to prove otherwise due to injury. Might somewhere else.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 25, 2018The Redskins signed DB Prince Charles Iworah and waived RB Keith Marshall with an injury settlement. Coaches were hopeful for Marshall last summer, but he tore his ACL early in camp. Back to back years on IR. Tough to overcome.
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 25, 2018The gloomy weather has followed the Redskins down to the capital city.
Getting ready for tomorrow. Fields are already very soggy. No rain in forecast for tomorrow pic.twitter.com/Jj52XovSGz
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 25, 2018Two Redskins defenders, lineman Stacy McGee and second-year corner Josh Holsey, will open camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) and non-football injury (NFI) lists, respectively. The latter suffered a freak accident prior to camp. McGee is still recovering from offseason groin surgery. Either could be activated at any time.
#Redskins Stacy McGee and Josh Holsey are starting on PUP. Holsey had an accident where he dropped something on his toe. McGee is recovering from off-season surgery.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 25, 2018Despite concerns about third-year receiver Josh Doctson undergoing an MRI on his Achilles' – the same trouble spot on the body that limited him to just two games his rookie season – Gruden insists Doctson is fine and is expected to be a full participant in camp.
Veterans Jordan Reed, Morgan Moses and Ty Nsekhe, along with rookie Shaun Dion Hamilton – a gifted college linebacker beset by injuries (torn ACL, fractured kneecap), whom the Redskins selected in the sixth round – will be on specific plans designed to keep them healthy throughout training camp, Gruden says. Additionally, Nsekhe will remain at tackle, despite earlier beliefs he may push Shawn Lauvao for the starting job at left guard.
Gruden says there's a fine line between pushing guys and making sure they don't push too hard. They'll talk as a staff daily to make sure everybody's in the best shape they can be.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 25, 2018Let the games begin!
Conditioning ✅Practice No. 1⃣ coming up tomorrow. #HTTR https://t.co/gTgszy3lFC pic.twitter.com/dhVtQ2fvHQ
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) July 25, 2018Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter
