Redskins rookie WR Trey Quinn activated from injured reserve

The Redskins got their best wide receiver back from injury today.

Yes, that statement is hyperbole. Or is it?

Okay, yes, it is. But the Washington Redskins did receive a boost for their receiving core earlier today. Recently, the team waived Joshua Holsey just a day after activating him from the non-football injury list. That action was taken to free up a spot for Trey Quinn on the active roster. Quinn was reverted from injured reserve earlier today, a move that was expected, and first reported by Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post.

Don’t worry about Holsey. He’s not going away; instead, he’ll take up residence on the Redskins practice squad, where he still holds eligibility. With the emergence of Greg Stroman as a solid boundary option at cornerback, given his seventh-round rookie status, any reinforcement to the team’s cornerback room has secondary priority.

The main priority, as evidenced by the move listed above, is clearly giving Alex Smith more weapons, and specifically, more weapons that attune to his preferences. Jamison Crowder, the team’s reliable slot receiver, was thought to be one such weapon, but he has not been available for half of the season, and thus, seventh-round rookie Trey Quinn has taken his place. It’s a large pair of shoes for Mr. Irrelevant, but a pair he has an opportunity to fill quickly.

Quinn, 22, was drafted by the Redskins with the No. 256 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, given the nickname ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ as the last pick on Day Three. Such a moniker often comes with low expectations, but Quinn’s skill set makes him a unique fit in the Redskins’ offense.

In a film breakdown piece released in the offseason, we highlighted Quinn’s route running and technician-like mold as his greatest advantage on the field. Quinn has the makeup and the mold of an NFL slot receiver, but there were questions surrounding his frame durability.

Getting hurt on a return when going out of bounds didn’t help Quinn’s case for proving he can stay on the field. That said, Quinn will get another opportunity very soon; his activation likely means that he will factor into the Redskins’ plans on offense, as Jamison Crowder is still unable to go. Could Quinn be the missing piece? Only one thing is certain: He brings something different to the receiving core, something that Alex Smith just might covet.