Washington Redskins 2018 season wide receiver grades
By Ian Cummings
Paul Richardson
The early results are in, and so far, it appears as if Paul Richardson‘s $8 million a year could be better spent.
Locked down for four more years, Richardson isn’t going anywhere, and at just 26 years old, he still has plenty of time to prove that his speed can bring a needed boost to the Redskins offense. But in 2018, the concerns with Richardson were very clear; in fact, they ended his season nine games early.
In the seven games Richardson played, he started four times, amassing 262 yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions. On pace for around 520 yards and four touchdowns on 40 receptions, Richardson was on his way to embarking on a respectable campaign. Alex Smith clearly was willing to throw deep to Richardson, who was the Redskins most consistent receiver when it came to finding separation.
But Richardson himself couldn’t consistently stay on the field; injuries derailed a promising inaugural campaign with the Redskins, and by Week 8, he was sidelined for good. He spent most of the latter half of the season on injured reserve.
Over the course of the next offseason, Richardson has to work to strengthen his body so that he can stay healthy. His flashes were bright in 2018, but his injuries proved to be detrimental, time and time again. It’s one thing if a player gets hurt in the chaos of football. It’s another if they can last through the slightest bit of contact.