Report: Steven Sims Jr. makes Redskins initial 53-man roster

According to a report, Steven Sims Jr. will be on the Washington Redskins initial 53-man roster to start the 2019 NFL season.

Once again, it appears that the Washington Redskins may have found a diamond in the rough as an undrafted free agent. They have had solid success in finding some contributors on the post-draft open market the past few seasons, and it appears that at least one undrafted player will be on the squad to kick off this season.

According to ESPN’s John Keim, the Redskins are going to be keeping undrafted wide-out Steven Sims Jr. The Kansas product had a strong preseason and really shined as a kick returner in the fourth preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He averaged 40 yards per return while also making a nifty catch on Dwayne Haskins touchdown.

Keim first reported this news via Twitter.

Of course, Sims’ inclusion on the roster will shake up the receiver room a bit. The team seems unlikely to keep seven, but could Sims’ performance have convinced them to do that? It remains to be seen.

Additionally, Sims making the roster could have an impact on the status of Josh Doctson. The team has been trying to trade him in the lead-up to the season and has apparently been attempting to move him over the course of the past couple seasons. With Doctson in what amounts to be a lame-duck year, moving him for a draft pick would certainly make sense, even given the weakness that the team has in the receiving corps. But if they can’t find a suitor, will they keep him? That’s the big question.

If Doctson stays and the Redskins need to trim the receiver position, guys like Robert Davis, Kelvin Harmon, and Cam Sims could all find themselves on the roster bubble. Of that group, Davis performed best in the preseason, but Sims was a training camp standout. And Harmon was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. So, the decision there would be tough, but I would give Davis the nod while trying to sneak one of the other players to the practice squad.

We’ll soon see what the Redskins do at the receiver position, but it seems that Steven Sims will be on the roster. It will be interesting to see what type of role he plays with the Redskins moving forward.