Redskins sign former Texans, Jaguars CB Aaron Colvin amidst injuries

The Redskins have been hit by injuries early in the secondary, and those issues forced them to add depth ahead of Week 2.

It’s been a start far from ideal for the Washington Redskins, who lost their season opener to the Philadelphia Eagles after giving up a 20-7 halftime lead, and then some. To add insult to injury, or perhaps injury to insult, the Redskins have been dealing with a swath of medical predicaments in the aftermath of that loss.

Jonathan Allen was recently ruled out for the team’s Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, and earlier today, the Redskins followed through on the expectations of many, and placed Derrius Guice on temporary injured reserve, restricting his ability to come back until Week 8.

All that said, the hardest hit roster segment in Washington has been the secondary. Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau are both questionable at best for Sunday’s game, and Montae Nicholson has been dealing with a foot issue as well. These issues forced the Redskins to sift through the free agent pool on Friday afternoon, and they came away with former Texans and Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin. Texans reporter Aaron Wilson first had the news, and D.C. sports reporter Ben Standig confirmed.

Colvin, 27, was recently released by the Texans, after a Week 1 performance that saw him targeted nine times, with eight competitions, 117 yards, and a touchdown against him on the box score, per Pro Football Focus. The quick release is notable, as Colvin was entering just the second year of a four-year, $34 million contract with $18 million in guarantees. Bill O’Brien’s tenure as general manager has been nothing, if not impulsive, but Colvin did not live up to expectations in Houston.

Colvin’s best years came with the Texans’ division rivals, the Jaguars. In 2015, he started fifteen of sixteen games as the team’s slot cornerback, and he showcased impressive versatility, with seven pass deflections, four sacks, and six tackles for loss. When separated from Jacksonville’s vaunted defense, Colvin struggled, but now, he’ll get another chance in D.C. And he’ll likely see the field quickly. He’s the second cornerback the Redskins have signed this week, beside Simeon Thomas.

Quinton Dunbar is dealing with a knee issue and may not be able to suit up on Sunday, and Fabian Moreau’s outlook is doubtful as well. If the Redskins are forced to go into battle without two of their starting cornerbacks, Colvin’s experience will be relied upon, if nothing else. It’s a move that, for now, only emphasizes the tumult of September in Washington.