Redskins Chris Thompson and Jordan Reed nearing readiness for Week 1

The Redskins starting offense has been the source of scrutiny this preseason. But they’ve been missing a couple of key pieces.

All it took was one subpar preseason game for people to start freaking out about the Washington Redskins offense. Granted, aside from Adrian Peterson, the offensive unit didn’t look quite up to speed in the Broncos game. But preseason has three main purposes, and none of them are winning.

For players on the roster fringe, preseason provides an opportunity to earn a spot on the final 53. For other players, the in-game action allows for getting rid of the rust accumulated over the course of the offseason. And for injured players, the preseason offers an extended period of healing. Chris Thompson and Jordan Reed are two players who’ve been using the four-game stretch in August for this purpose.

In the backfield, Chris Thompson’s inherent quickness and receiving ability has been missed. The fifth-year pro has been a roster lock since the start of the offseason, but he hasn’t yet made an appearance on the game day roster. Still in the final recovery stages of his rehab from a broken fibula back in November, Thompson has his quickness back, but not his confidence.

Jordan Reed, meanwhile, has spent the offseason making sure his foot injury that sidelined him last year won’t be a problem again. He had surgery on the foot, but the team is taking it slow with him; they know full well how important he is to the offense.

Neither player has set foot on the field yet, but they have been working with Alex Smith in practice, gaining chemistry with the new pieces on offense. Now, per ESPN’s John Keim, both are on track to join the starting unit for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Here’s what Keim had to say in a concurrent article:

"The Washington Redskins‘ offense, which hasn’t been together in full this preseason, should receive a boost for the regular-season opener. Tight end Jordan Reed and third-down back Chris Thompson are on pace to play Sept. 9 at Arizona.Redskins coach Jay Gruden said both players, who fill important roles on offense, should be available. Thompson is recovering from a broken fibula; he also tore a ligament and had screws inserted into his leg. Reed played only six games last season and needed surgery to repair both of his big toes."

In the same article referenced above, Keim quotes Jay Gruden saying that Thompson, in particular, “looks fantastic” and that Reed is “getting there”. Both statements are positive signs for two players who will undoubtedly be key pieces of the Redskins offense with Smith at the helm.