Redskins 53-man roster projection after Week 3 of preseason

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 24: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 24, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 12
Next
LANDOVER, MD – JANUARY 10: Tackle Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins covers his face with a towel against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at FedExField on January 10, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – JANUARY 10: Tackle Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins covers his face with a towel against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at FedExField on January 10, 2016 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Offensive Line (9)

Keeping: Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, Tony Bergstrom, Geron Christian, Tyler Catalina

Notable Cuts: Demetrius Rhaney, Kyle Kalis

The offensive line is quietly an area of concern for the Redskins. The starters are solid. Trent Williams and Brandon Scherff require no introduction. Morgan Moses is a solid player in his own right. Shawn Lauvao, if healthy, is a capable left guard, and Chase Roullier has upside as the team’s starter at center.

The Redskins’ starters are not the concern. What is the concern is the depth, or lack thereof, behind them.

Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders /

Washington Commanders

Washington’s best depth offensive lineman is Ty Nsekhe, a 34-year old tackle who could fall off the proverbial cliff at any moment. At tackle, Geron Christian joins him as a raw, unfinished product. He’s underwhelmed this preseason, and should he see extensive regular season snaps, the Redskins will be in trouble.

On the interior, the Redskins have Tony Bergstrom and Tyler Catalina. Bergstrom is decent as a backup lineman. He has experience and the versatility to play both center and guard, and when asked to start last season, he held his own. Catalina, meanwhile, is a large guard with upside, but he has yet to gain the functional strength to be anything more than a reserve player. The only thing that makes him a roster inclusion over Kyle Kalis is his ability to play tackle as well.

No team in the NFL wants their backup linemen to play, but it’s worth noting that the Redskins have lots of questions there anyway. Your backups can only be so good before they become starters; they’re all backups for a reason. But the Redskins’ backups are particularly concerning for the specific set and breadth of questions they bring to the table. The injuries last season only make matters worse.