Redskins sign C Demetrius Rhaney, elevate two more from practice squad
By Ian Cummings
The Redskins are using the limited time ahead of Thursday’s game to fine tune their injury-riddled roster.
How rude of the Redskins to do all this on the day I have a paper due and a huge test to study for. But never mind that. I’ll be fine. It’s the Redskins who should be worried. Because with every passing day, their roster looks more and more resemblant of a CFL team.
Earlier today, the Redskins placed three players on injured reserve. Two were expected. Chris Thompson suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s loss to the Saints, and Terrelle Pryor underwent surgery on a bum ankle beforehand.
But joining these players will be Spencer Long, a rather unexpected addition to the reserve. He’s been battling injuries all year. He played part of the game on Sunday, but was taken out after it was clear he was not one hundred percent. For a while, the team thought he would be able to recover and compete, but those hopes have since been dashed. The Redskins finally decided to shut him down.
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Chase Roullier would start with Long out, but Roullier, too, is injured, and he isn’t a lock for Thursday. If Roullier was unable to play, Tony Bergstrom would be in line to start at center. I bet most of you forgot he was still there. While Bergstrom is a veteran, he has no experience at center for the Redskins, and thus, the team signed 25-year old center Demetrius Rhaney, to at least get someone who’s played at that position for most of their career. ESPN’s John Keim reported the news on Twitter.
The Redskins also have signed running back LeShun Daniels off the practice squad, in addition to linebacker Pete Robertson and nose tackle A.J. Francis. They've also signed center Demetrius Rhaney. https://t.co/6u18IzsRfu
— John Keim (@john_keim) November 21, 2017
In addition to signing Rhaney, a former 2014 draft pick who last played for the Rams, the Redskins also signed practice squad players A.J. Francis and LeShun Daniels to the active roster. Francis is a regular on and off the roster, so I won’t worry about introducing you to him for the forty-eighth time. But let’s talk about LeShun Daniels.
Daniels, 6-foot-0, 225, played college ball at Iowa University, where he ran for 1,895 yards and 19 touchdowns on 408 carries. His best year was his senior season, where he logged 1,058 yards and 8 touchdowns on 213 carries. He went undrafted this year, and spent most of the offseason on the New England Patriots. He was released during final cuts, after rushing for 85 yards on 26 carries in the preseason.
Daniels signed to the Chargers’ practice squad later in the season, and he would subsequently be released soon after. Just five days ago, Daniels was signed to the Redskins’ practice squad. And now, he’ll be their third running back after Chris Thompson went on injured reserve. Very little is known about Daniels, so this will be an interesting process. He’ll almost certainly be active on Sunday, and due to his size, he could get some looks as a change-of-pace back in offensive situations.
Next: Previewing the Redskins' Week 12 matchup vs. New York
Let these signings be a reminder that the Redskins are not the same team they were eight weeks ago. Injuries have stripped this squad to the bone, and then some. It will take solid play from every impact player to win in the weeks moving forward. And if some lesser names, like the ones signed today, would provide an unexpected impact, that would help even more.