Redskins WR Brian Quick won’t be an easy roster cut to make

After the emergence of undrafted rookie receiver Cam Sims, many have called for the Redskins to ditch veteran Brian Quick in favor of the Alabama product. But that’s easier said than done.

The Washington Redskins have a tough decision to make at the wide receiver position, and with both Brian Quick and Cam Sims listed as inactive in today’s preseason matchup, that decision won’t get any easier.

Sims has received plenty of attention so far this preseason, and deservedly so; he’s made a name for himself with a number of high-flying plays. Particularly last week against the New York Jets, Sims was electric. After dropping an easy pass early, Sims rebounded and converted multiple contested throws into big gains. He was locked in, and it was soon apparent that he was the quarterback’s favorite target in pressure situations, whether Colt McCoy or Kevin Hogan was in the game.

At 6-foot-5, Sims has an imposing frame and stellar range. As a former four-star recruit, he was overshadowed at Alabama, but now his talent is shining through on the biggest stage of his young career. After two solid games, many see Sims as a lock to make the roster. Doug Williams even credited Sims with throwing a “hand grenade” into the wide receiver competition.

But do the Redskins see him as a lock?

Even after the injury to Robert Davis, the Redskins’ receiving core is crowded. Maurice Harris and Trey Quinn are likely to be the No. 4 and No. 5 receivers, leaving Sims and veteran Brian Quick as the next two in line. On one hand, swapping a decent veteran for a rookie with upside is an easy decision, but it’s clear that the Redskins don’t view it as a landslide. Rather, the race is too close to call.

Quick hasn’t done much on the field with the Redskins; last season, he made a few key plays in the Seahawks game, before he was lost for the season with a concussion, but aside from that, he was largely invisible. It was strange, because in 2016, Quick had a career year with the Rams, notching 41 receptions for 564 yards and three touchdowns.

At 29 years old, it’s unlikely that Quick’s football years have been exhausted. He did enough off the field to be given a one-year extension with the Redskins, and he’s the eldest in the receiver room by over three years. That experience could hold heightened value to the Redskins. Perhaps Quick has separated himself as a mentor in the locker room. The Redskins would be giving him much more playing time in preseason if his roster spot was in greater danger.

None of this means Quick is a roster lock. Tough decisions will have to be made, and in the end, the Redskins could opt to cut Quick, in order to keep Cam Sims on the active roster. But the inverse is also a possibility. A continued injury scourge could clear up a muddled position room, but for now, neither Quick nor Sims is helping the Redskins with their decision. Quick’s impact is apparently far more intangible than Sims’, but both provide value in the eyes of the team.