Redskins sign tight end Hale Hentges, release edge rusher Cassanova McKinzy

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Hale Hentges #86 of the Indianapolis Colts runs for yards during the second half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Hale Hentges #86 of the Indianapolis Colts runs for yards during the second half of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Redskins added another tight end to their roster in Hale Hentges while parting ways with edge rusher Cassanova McKinzy.

Jay Gruden wasn’t the only member of the Washington Redskins to be relieved of his duties on Monday.

The Redskins made another small roster move to add to their tight end group on Monday afternoon. The team was in need of more depth as Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis are both dealing with concussions. And without them in the lineup, all the Redskins have at the position is Jeremy Sprinkle and Jerome Cunningham.

That’s exactly why the team signed Hale Hentges to their roster. Per ESPN’s John Keim, Hentges was signed while the team released edge rusher Cassanova McKinzy.

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The release of McKinzy is a minor surprise. He was a standout during training camp and the preseason, but he hadn’t done much during the regular season. He got a sack in the season opener against the Eagles but dealt with an injury and missed Weeks 3 and 4 with the malady. And evidently, the team has decided to move on as a result.

With McKinzy gone, Noah Spence, a former second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Bucs, will serve as the Redskins’ fourth pass rusher. Spence signed with the Redskins ahead of their Week 4 game against the New York Giants.

Meanwhile, Hentges will add some depth to the team’s troubled tight end room. Hentges (6-foot-4, 254 pounds) played collegiately at Alabama and caught 11 passes for 6 touchdowns in his final two years at the school. He went undrafted but landed with the Indianapolis Colts. He performed well for them during the preseason, catching 7 passes for 80 yards, and made the 53-man roster. However, he was waived amid a roster crunch and that’s how the ‘Skins were able to land him.

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Overall, this move won’t have a massive impact on the team, but it will be interesting to see if Hentges can find a role in the offense. The opportunity is there for someone to step up, and perhaps it will be the Alabama product. It’s well-known that Washington likes Alabama prospects, so they’ll surely give Hentges a chance to prove himself as long as he’s on the roster.