Redskins promote LB Pete Robertson to active roster
By Ian Cummings
The Redskins are looking for more depth in the linebacking core. They’ve reportedly signed practice squad LB Pete Robertson to the active roster.
It was widely believed that the Redskins would try and make a run at a tailback with their scarcely open roster spots. But instead, they’ve decide to make an inside hire with their next game only two days away. Per ESPN’s John Keim, Pete Robertson will be elevated to the active 53-man roster, effective immediately.
The Redskins have promoted linebacker Pete Robertson off the practice squad, per sources. Robertson has worked inside and outside for Washington. At inside linebacker, the Redskins lost Mason Foster and Will Compton while Zach Brown has left the locker... https://t.co/EHl13B2cVC
— John Keim (@john_keim) November 21, 2017
According to Keim’s report on ESPN, not only are Mason Foster and Will Compton both on injured reserve, but the past few games, Zach Brown has also been ailing from a sore right Achilles. With limited clarity on the Brown issue thus far, the Redskins could very well be without their best three inside linebackers on Thursday. Thus, signing Robertson to the roster makes sense.
Robertson, 6-foot-3, 244, entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He spent his first offseason with the Seattle Seahawks, and he was cut on August 30, just before the start of the regular season. He spent the 2017 season without a team, and in January of this year, he was signed by the Redskins.
He spent the offseason in Ashburn, and although he was let go in final cuts, he managed to stick around on the practice squad. Robertson is big, and he can play both on the inside and on the outside. Now, it appears his size and versatility has earned him a shot at the next level.
The Redskins have to have at least three inside linebackers active on Thursday. If Brown cannot play, then that leaves Martrell Spaight as the best healthy linebacker (you should be worried if you saw him play in New Orleans), and Josh Harvey-Clemons, Pete Robertson, and Zach Vigil behind him. Oh, boy.
Next: Previewing the Redskins Week 12 battle vs. the Giants
Robertson will likely be active, due to his time spent with the team, as well as his versatility. He’s not guaranteed to succeed, but with so many key players out, he might actually have a good chance of logging considerable snaps this week. The injury bug has hit impossibly hard this year, and that is evident with the premature signings of players like Pete Robertson. He has potential. But he may not be ready to hit the big stage yet. However, only time will tell. The Redskins play the Giants at 8:30 PM on Thursday. We might see Robertson’s name a lot that day.