Washington Redskins training camp summary: Day one is done

The Redskins kicked off their 2019 session of training camp today. Yes, the wait is over.

There’s still a little bit of a wait before the 2019 regular season hits, but for now, there’s more than enough football to follow, as the Washington Redskins get back into the swing of things with training camp practices and walkthroughs.

The Redskins held their first training camp session today, holding two practice sessions at 9:30 and 4:30. We gathered some notes from both sessions. Who’s standing out early, and how quickly is progress being made in key position battles?

Here are some of the key takeaways from the first day of Redskins training camp:

• Per Rhiannon Walker of the Athletic, Jay Gruden said that Brandon Scherff is in the best shape of his life, and his pectoral injury suffered midseason last year doesn’t seem to be bothering him. We won’t get an accurate depiction of Scherff’s health until full contact comes into play, but early reports are promising. Scherff is arguably in the top five at his position in the NFL, and with Trent Williams holding out, he becomes even more important.
• Ereck Flowers played with the first team at left tackle, with Williams out. That’s bad. Very bad. Meanwhile, Wes Martin played with the first team at left guard. That’s less bad, but one would rather have Williams blocking next to the fourth-round rookie, than Flowers. No updates from Gruden on Williams yet.
• Starting center Chase Roullier is reportedly day-to-day after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. Gruden was optimistic about Roullier’s chances to participate in training camp, but for now, Tony Bergstrom has his spot on the first-team offense.
• Case Keenum got the initial first-team reps at quarterback, while Haskins was with the second-team, and McCoy with the third-team. Haskins would later take first-team reps in seven-on-seven drills. The three are in a quarterback battle with each other, and one should expect these slots to rotate on a consistent basis. They’re doing the same thing with the running backs, as Derrius Guice was with the third-team, after recently being cleared medically.
• Gruden tested Haskins’ mental acuity early, as that is one of the most important traits of a quarterback. None of the quarterbacks separated themselves consistently from one another in the first day, but Haskins showed promise, changing protections and executing motions based on what the defense gave him. He’s still learning, but he’s quickly showing off some of the traits that made him a pro-ready prospect at quarterback.
• Montez Sweat is big.
• Robert Davis is not on the PUP list, surprisingly, but he did have a case of the drops today, as did some undrafted free agents. Davis can’t afford to waste any opportunities, as he’s still on the outside looking in at the receiver position. While Davis underwhelmed, Cam Sims continued to make plays and stand out amongst the pack, with his size, consistent catching, and proportional speed.
• Is Jordan Reed back? The quick-footed tight end broke Landon Collins’ ankles on one rep in 1-on-1’s. When healthy, he’s always displayed the route running savvy to find separation up the middle, but he needs to show consistency this year.
• Trey Quinn and Terry McLaurin are the real deal. Per D.C. Sports reporter Craig Hoffman, Quinn’s understanding of route running nuance is “incredible” and that he was “keeping guys guessing”. Meanwhile, McLaurin apparently embarrassed Troy Apke on one 1-on-1 rep. Here’s the video, but I warn you: It is PG-13, borderline R-rated content.
• The linebacker position has been the source of endless speculation since Mason Foster’s release. Today, the most predictable outcome came to pass: Shaun Dion Hamilton and Jon Bostic were on the first team at that position. Hamilton has exciting potential, while Bostic is a known quantity as an average starter. Bostic will probably get a lot of good press in training camp because of his relative experience and ability to call the defense. But be wary when the season comes around.
• Jimmy Moreland got some reps with the first team in the second walkthrough session in the afternoon, but for the most part, the starting lineup in the secondary was as expected: Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, and Fabian Moreau at cornerback, and Montae Nicholson and Landon Collins at safety. Nicholson and Collins were paired up as the No. 1 safeties for the entire session, and Nicholson was frequently talking with Collins, learning from the veteran.
• Dwayne Haskins and Derrius Guice stayed after practice to get extra work in after the first session, and several other players stayed after the second walkthrough session in the afternoon. Players seem committed to putting in the work so far, and chemistry is building, but there’s a long way to go.
• Alex Smith was present at minicamp. He rode in on a cart, and he wants to help Haskins develop and be a voice in his ear. Not too many assets are more valuable for a rookie quarterback than that.

Day one of training camp is in the books, and so far, there’s plenty to be excited about. As for the development of key storylines, such as the quarterback battle and the inside linebacker situation, we simply need more time to let it settle. Stick with us here at Riggo’s Rag for future updates!