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Redskins' Roster Is At 53 After Final Cuts

Posted Sep 3, 2011

The Redskins released 24 players on Saturday, with quarterback Kellen Clemens, running back Keiland Williams and safety Chris Horton among the more notable names.


The Redskins released 24 players on Saturday, with quarterback Kellen Clemens, running back Keiland Williams, offensive lineman Artis Hicks, linebacker Horatio Blades and safety Chris Horton among the more notable names.

The roster is now set at the league-mandated 53 players. The team can sign eight players to the practice squad on Sunday.

As promised by head coach Mike Shanahan, the Redskins' roster is significantly younger this year. The average age of the roster is 25.58 and includes 25 players with three years of experience or less.

With the release of Clemens, the Redskins have just two quarterbacks on the roster: Rex Grossman and John Beck.

It appears veteran Mike Sellers – the longest-tenured Redskin who proved he could play tight end and H-back in addition to fullback – beat out Williams for a roster spot.

Hicks started 10 games at right guard for the Redskins last season and had experience at offensive tackle as well. His job was taken by free agent pickup Chris Chester. It appears backup roles have been assigned to Sean Locklear and first-year lineman Erik Cook.

Horton was listed as the third strong safety behind LaRon Landry and Reed Doughty. Rookie DeJon Gomes, a fifth-round draft pick, secured the backup free safety job behind Oshiomogho Atogwe.

Rookie DeJon Gomes, a 2011 fifth-round draft pick, beat out Horton, a three-year veteran, at safety.

Here is the Redskins’ complete list of roster cuts:

REDSKINS ROSTER CUTS: SEPT. 3, 2011
Player Position Status
Isaac Anderson WR Waived; Undrafted Rookie
Horatio Blades LB 2007 6th-Round Draft Pick
Anthony Bryant NT 5-Year Veteran; Signed in 2010
Selvish Capers OT Waived; 2010 7th-Round Draft Pick
Kellen Clemens QB 6-Year Vet; Signed in July
Tony Curtis TE 4-Year Vet; Signed in August
Shaun Draughn RB Waived; Undrafted Rookie
Thaddeus Gibson LB Waived; Joined Team in August
Matt Gutierrez QB Waived; Signed in August
Artis Hicks OL 10-Year Vet; Signed in 2010
Chris Horton S Waived; 2008 7th-Round Draft Pick
Maurice Hurt OL Waived; 2011 7th-Round Draft Pick
Edgar Jones LB 5-Year Vet; Signed last January
Reggie Jones CB Waived; Signed in 2010
Clint Oldenburg OT Waived; Signed in 2009
Donovan Raiola C Waived; Signed in August
Aldrick Robinson WR Waived; 2011 6th-Round Draft Pick
Evan Royster RB Waived; 2011 6th-Round Draft Pick
Anderson Russell S Waived; Signed in 2010
Derek Schouman TE 5-Year Vet; Signed in August
Davonte Shannon DB Waived; Undrafted Rookie
Jeff Stehle DL Waived; Signed in August
Doug Worthington DL Waived; Signed in August
Keiland Williams RB Waived; Signed in 2010

Clemens played in all four Redskins preseason games and completed 18-of-33 passes for 203 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His last preseason throw was a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Donte Stallworth.

With the third quarterback designation removed this offseason, the Redskins could go with just two quarterbacks on the roster this year. It's possible they could sign a third quarterback to the practice squad for scout team reps.

The Redskins' final roster includes eight wide receivers, an unusually high number for a 53-man roster. Rookies Leonard Hankerson and Niles Paul made the final roster, as did Stallworth, a 9-year veteran who led the Redskins in receiving yards in preseason.

Nine of the Redskins' 12 draft picks made the roster, including seventh-round picks cornerback Brandyn Thompson, linebacker Markus White and Neild.

Thompson and White may have solidified a roster spot in the Redskins' preseason finale last Thursday night vs. Tampa Bay. Thompson logged four tackles and three passes defended while White had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

One undrafted rookie made the final roster: offensive tackle Willie Smith out of East Carolina. The 6-6, 290-pounder impressed with a solid preseason and even had some snaps with the first-team offensive line.

Draft picks who were released were offensive lineman Maurice Hurt, wide receiver Aldrick Robinson and running back Evan Royster. Robinson and Royster were sixth-round selections while Hurt was a seventh-rounder.

Royster started the Redskins' preseason finale vs. Tampa Bay and finished third in rushing with 110 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.

The release of Royster and undrafted rookie Shaun Draughn means that the Redskins' running back corps consists of Tim Hightower, rookie Roy Helu and Ryan Torain.

The biggest surprise of the Redskins' roster cuts? Could be Anthony Bryant, who was expected to serve as the team's backup nose tackle. It appears he was beaten out in preseason by rookie seventh-round draft pick Chris Neild.

Elsewhere on defense, Darrion Scott may have benefited from the unfortunate season-ending knee injury to promising rookie Jarvis Jenkins. Scott, a 5-year veteran, saw limited action with the Redskins last year.

Jenkins, incidentally, was officially placed on injured reserve.

Keyaron Fox, the former Pittsburgh Steeler who was signed by the Redskins in early August, beat out Horatio Blades at inside linebacker. Blades was a 2007 sixth-round draft pick by the Redskins.

The Redskins decided to keep five cornerbacks, including backups Thompson and Byron Westbrook, who is in his third season with the club. Phillip Buchanon is on the reserve/suspended list due to violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Shanahan said last week that this year's roster cuts would be difficult because there was no off-season evaluation due to the NFL lockout.

“It’s always tough on some of the young players because they haven’t had the opportunity to show us everything that they could do,” Shanahan said. “Missing the OTA days is tougher on this year’s class than most, even though we had 90 players to start with, because when you have OTA days, you’re talking about a lot of reps to evaluate some guys.”