Report: Redskins working out former Colts offensive guard Hugh Thornton

The Washington Redskins are continuing to explore outside help options for their offensive line and are reportedly working out former Indianapolis Colts guard, Hugh Thornton.

Credit the Redskins where credit is due. They know they have a problem on the offensive line and they are at least attempting to address it.

The way that the team is addressing the position may not necessarily make fans happy. After all, Trent Williams is still holding out from the squad and there is no end in sight. He may not even want to play for the team, so it will be interesting to see how the ‘Skins handle that.

But regardless, even in the wake of Williams’ holdout, the Redskins have done what they can to add some depth on the line. Last Friday, they signed tackle Corey Robinson to the roster. And on Tuesday, they added veteran left tackle Donald Penn as an insurance policy in case Williams doesn’t report. Penn could be an excellent swing option if Williams returns, too, so his signing really was a great move.

However, the team isn’t done exploring options on the offensive line. According to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay, the team is working out former Indianapolis Colts draft pick Hugh Thornton on Tuesday.

Thornton, who played collegiately at Illinois, appeared in 37 games with the Colts and made 32 starts over the course of his three healthy seasons with the team. He was a decent-at-best starter but was probably better suited to be a backup player. Thornton hasn’t played a snap in the NFL since 2015, though he did spend time with the Colts in 2016 (on IR) and with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 before announcing his retirement from the NFL.

Thornton recently unretired from professional football and got a chance to play briefly for the Arizona Hotshots in the AAF before the league folded. And now, he’s getting a chance to work out for an NFL team as he continues on the comeback trail.

If the Redskins wanted to sign Thornton (6-foot-3, 320 pounds), he would provide depth on the interior offensive line. That said, despite his starting experience, it’s unlikely that he would be much better than what they already have. But, he is still just 28 and could be fresh after a couple of years away from football. So, taking a shot on him wouldn’t necessarily be the worst idea.

We’ll see if anything comes of this, but it’s important to note that Thornton would only be competing for a backup spot if he does ink a deal. We’ll see if the former Ryan Grigson draft pick gets a chance to prove himself during Redskins training camp and the preseason or if the team is just doing their due diligence.