Redskins place WR Maurice Harris on injured reserve

The Redskins could go into Sunday’s matchup against the Eagles with only five healthy receivers.

Injuries constituted a key storyline of the Washington Redskins 2017 season, and with 2018 winding to a close, little has changed.

Since the midpoint of the season, Washington’s offense has been reduced to a shell of its former self (which wasn’t all too impressive, either). As of last week, the Redskins started their fourth-string quarterback, their backup running back, two reserve receivers, their third-string tight end, and as far back as a sixth-string player on the offensive line.

It’s up to interpretation whether or not Jay Gruden deserves a pass for the bad injury luck his teams have suffered in recent years. But no one can deny the magnitude of the problem.

Washington previously had 23 players on injured reserve, and now, with wide receiver Maurice Harris being reverted to injured reserve, they have 24. The team’s official Twitter account confirmed the transaction.

Harris, a former undrafted free agent in his third season with Washington, had amassed 304 yards on 28 receptions through twelve active games. With the Redskins health concerns at receiver, which saw contributors such as Paul Richardson and Trey Quinn miss substantial time, Harris found himself elevated into a primary reserve role for much of 2018. He started seven games as the team’s third receiver, along with Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder.

With Harris now deactivated for the team’s final game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Redskins will likely be forced to trot out all five active receivers in Week 17. Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder will be joined by Michael Floyd, undrafted rookie Darvin Kidsy, and standout special teams gunner Jehu Chesson.

Of all the positions on Washington’s roster, wide receiver has been one of the hardest hit. Harris’ injury, albeit small in terms of impact, only makes that truth more apparent.