Redskins promote Cam Sims off practice squad, release Robert Davis

Ahead of their Week 5 matchup with the New England Patriots, the Redskins have made a roster move at wide receiver.

With their chances of winning slipping with every passing week, the most effective purpose the Washington Redskins can assign to the 2019 season is to develop young players and search for pieces to the future rebuild.

The Redskins haven’t yet fully embraced reality, but they are making some roster moves that align with this perspective. According to Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post, the Redskins have released wide receiver Robert Davis, and in his place, they’ve promoted Cam Sims off of the practice squad. Davis was not brought back on the practice squad; instead, the team signed another familiar face in Darvin Kidsy.

It’s unclear why the Redskins chose to part ways with Davis, who caught the first catch of his career, an eleven-yard gain, against the New York Giants on Sunday. But for now, the Redskins have decided to go in a different direction, and in his place, they bring on Sims, who is a similar player, in some aspects.

Sims doesn’t have as explosive of an athletic profile as Robert Davis, but at 6-foot-5, Sims has rare size for his position. He was the NFL’s leading receiver in preseason of 2018, and his efforts in his undrafted rookie campaign earned him a spot on the initial active roster. But after Sims sustained an injury in the 2018 season debut, he was placed on injured reserve.

Coming into this year, Sims entered a more crowded receiving core, and in final cuts, he was ultimately released and re-signed to Washington’s practice squad. Now, he’s healthy, and he’s back on the active roster, where he’ll presumably be rotated in at receiver, as well as play snaps at special teams.

Sims’ second chance may be an overlooked storyline, but aside from Terry McLaurin, the Redskins receivers haven’t been able to consistently produce this season. Quarterback issues and other offensive externalities have played a part, but there could be an opportunity for Sims to break onto the scene at some point.