Redskins: Five players to watch in Week 2 of preseason
By Ian Cummings
No. 5 – Redskins ILB Josh Harvey-Clemons
It was a toss-up between Josh Harvey-Clemons and Cole Holcomb for this slot, but I felt as if Harvey-Clemons showed a bit more on Thursday, in terms of consistency and skill set. Both players were fast, but Harvey-Clemons looked bigger and longer, and he made a couple key stops in limited action.
Harvey-Clemons, 25, has always had three-down linebacker upside, but he just needed to add more weight to his athletic frame. With 35.6-inch arms, Harvey-Clemons’ wingspan rivals that of some linemen, and with that frame, he can be incredibly disruptive, both as a pursuing tackler and as a pass defender.
Harvey-Clemons showed some of that upside in Week 1 of preseason, and in Week 2, Harvey-Clemons could get a rare starting opportunity; Shaun Dion Hamilton suffered a chest injury in Week 1, and his status is unclear to this point. It was a minor injury; that much is known. But the team could hold Hamilton out, and give Harvey-Clemons a chance to show more of his exciting traits.
Harvey-Clemons is essentially a roster lock; the linebacker position doesn’t have much depth, and Harvey-Clemons at least provides that. He also has upside and the ability to play special teams. But if he takes this opportunity and runs with it, he could find himself in a more meaningful rotation, come September and October.