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Five Redskins position battles to watch in Week 2 of preseason

By Ian Cummings

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 05: Wide receiver Brian Quick #83 of the Washington Redskins catches a long pass in front of Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Redskins won 17-14. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 05: Wide receiver Brian Quick #83 of the Washington Redskins catches a long pass in front of Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Redskins won 17-14. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 9 : Danny Etling of the New England Patriots looks for a pass during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – AUGUST 9 : Danny Etling of the New England Patriots looks for a pass during the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

No. 4 – Fifth Outside Linebacker

Battle: Pete Robertson vs. Vontae Diggs

There’s no guarantee that the Redskins will keep five outside linebackers, although they did last year, keeping Chris Carter as primarily a special teams player.

This year, the Redskins seem content with the lineup of Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee, and Ryan Anderson, although they could very well keep a fifth player at that position. The team’s depth there is average, with the uncertainty surrounding Anderson’s development and McPhee’s injury history. McPhee is a solid run defender, and Anderson seems to be growing under his tutelage, but having another player in the wings could bode well for the Redskins.

It just begs the question: Who might that player be?

light. Related Story. Riggo's Rag Podcast - Roster Projection 2.0

For most of the offseason, we’ve been shooting in the dark, but now, with one preseason game in the books, we have an idea of who the front runners for a potential fifth spot might be. Pete Robertson has drawn praise from Jay Gruden in camp with his athleticism, and in the Redskins’ game against the Patriots, undrafted rookie Vontae Diggs shined, showing good speed and tenacity in both run and pass defense, per our own Jacob Camenker.

The depth at outside linebacker, with Robertson and Diggs, is not dissimilar from Kevin Hogan’s status at quarterback. Their fate is in their own hands, but if they don’t show enough, the Redskins could very well be comfortable keeping only four outside linebackers. Nevertheless, both Diggs and Robertson have made dents this offseason. In the Jets game, Diggs will need to keep making an impact, and Robertson has some ground to catch up.

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