Redskins work out journeyman quarterback Connor Cook

The Redskins are mulling over a minor move in their quarterback room, after an injury altered their depth chart.

The Washington Redskins have commonly carried four quarterbacks during training camp and preseason. It helps to have a fourth quarterback to throw to reserve players, and it helps to divvy up reps when coaches want to take higher-level players off the field and keep them healthy.

On Thursday, former AAF standout Josh Woodrum was that fourth quarterback, cleaning up in the fourth quarter as the Redskins fell to the Cleveland Browns, and playing with the reserves. Woodrum ultimately lost the role, however, when he was sacked, and had his pectoral muscle torn.

Woodrum is now out for the year, and he’ll be relegated to injured reserve. The Redskins now need a new fourth quarterback to take his reps, and they sought out a solution today at training camp. Per NBC Sports Mid-Atlantic’s J.P. Finlay, the Redskins hosted former Michigan State Spartans and Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook for a workout.

Cook, 26, was last employed with the Detroit Lions earlier this offseason; he was cut on June 10. He last played a game with the Oakland Raiders, back in 2016. After Derek Carr and Matt McGloin both went down with injuries in the lead-up to the playoffs, Cook started the final game of the 2016 season, throwing for 14 completions on 21 attempts, 150 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Cook started one game in the subsequent playoff series, and he was easily outmatched by the vaunted Texans defense, throwing 18 completions on 45 attempts, 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. That was Cook’s rookie year, and after that, he remained the backup for another year before he was released at the start of 2018. Since then, he’s spent time with the Panthers, Bengals, and the aforementioned Lions.

Cook was originally drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He hailed from Michigan State. After becoming the Spartans’ all-time winningest quarterback, he received some early-round hype as a prototypical NFL quarterback with a good arm and decent athleticism. His accuracy ultimately caused concerns, and he never returned to his winning ways in the NFL. He was thrown into the fire too early, and it stunted his development.

Still, Cook has upside, and he’d be a fine fourth quarterback for the remainder of the preseason slate. His long-term outlook is cloudy; the Redskins wouldn’t have much reason to place him on the practice squad, unless he impressed enough in preseason to warrant consideration as a younger, long-term backup. But right now, all the Redskins need is another arm. Cook can give them that, if they choose to sign him.