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:
It appears veteran
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
Horton was listed as the third strong safety behind
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
Nine of the Redskins' 12 draft picks made the roster, including seventh-round picks cornerback
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
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
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
Elsewhere on defense,
Jenkins, incidentally, was officially placed on injured reserve.
The Redskins decided to keep five cornerbacks, including backups Thompson and
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.”