Redskins sign 2017 undrafted free agent WR Dan Williams

Just a couple days after losing a wide receiver to a season-ending injury, the Redskins have filled that void with another big-bodied target.

It was during practice earlier this week that Washington Redskins receiver Robert Davis came down awkwardly on his leg, breaking his tibia and suffering corresponding ligament damage as well. His season is over, and his recovery could very well last until next year’s training camp session.

Davis, a second-year player and former sixth-round pick, was viewed as a strong candidate to make the roster. He’d shown development over the past weeks, and he flashed in his first preseason game of 2018.

Now, with Davis out, the Redskins have one less name to shuffle in the hat for upcoming roster cuts. But that didn’t stop them from filling the void left by the pass catcher. In a corresponding move to Davis’ injury, the Redskins have signed Dan Williams III, per the team’s official Twitter page. Davis has been placed on injured reserve.

Williams, standing at 6-foot-3, 200, was a standout at Jackson State University. In four years with he school, he became the program’s all-time leader in catches, logging 184 receptions, 2,497 yards, and 19 touchdowns, finding the end zone on more than ten percent of his catches.

Despite his success, Williams went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, spending time with both the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets in his first offseason. He was ultimately waived following preseason, but the Jets signed him back on a futures deal earlier this year.

In a tumultuous New York receiving core, Williams wasn’t able to last, and in Washington, his job won’t be any easier. Even with Davis gone, the Redskins still have at least five receivers ahead of Williams in Maurice Harris, Trey Quinn, Brian Quick, Cam Sims, and Simmie Cobbs, and with their team experience, Shay Fields and Darvin Kidsy are likely to have a leg up on Williams as well.

Nevertheless, Dan Williams has an NFL frame and a desire to show what he’s capable of. Now with the Redskins, he has three preseason games to show he belongs in the NFL. It’s not a wide window for him to fit through. But sometimes, all a player needs is an inch. If he impresses, Williams could lock down a spot on the practice squad, but his roster chances are admittedly slim.