Redskins receiver Emanuel Hall out for 2020 with torn Achilles

Emanuel Hall was a dark-horse roster candidate for the Washington Redskins, but a torn Achilles will sideline him for 2020.

The Washington Redskins made a savvy move late during the 2019 season when they added Emanuel Hall to their practice squad. The Missouri receiver was considered to be a potential mid-round pick by some analysts in 2019, but he went undrafted due mainly to injury concerns and minor concerns about his makeup.

But talent is something that Hall definitely has. He averaged 20.8 yards per catch during his collegiate career working with Drew Lock as his quarterback. In eight games as a senior, Hall caught 37 passes for 828 yards and six scores. And when coupled with his 6-2, 200-pound frame and his 4.39 speed, many thought he’d have the potential to develop into a starter on the outside at the NFL level.

The Redskins were banking on Hall’s potential, and that’s why he was on the team. He was expected to challenge for a spot on the 53-man roster in 2020, but unfortunately, he won’t get a chance to do that.

As Hall detailed in a recent Instagram post, he suffered a torn Achilles earlier in the offseason while preparing for the 2020 season. As a result, Hall will miss the campaign and hope to come back stronger in 2021.

It’s unfortunate that Hall won’t have a chance to battle for a role in the Redskins receiver corps. The team’s pass-catching unit has plenty of upside thanks to young talents like Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims, Kelvin Harmon, and Antonio Gandy-Golden, but they are far from a settled group, especially in terms of depth. Hall could’ve had a chance to make the team and surprise. But now, he’ll have to wait a season before getting a chance to do that.

That said, Hall’s absence won’t have a major impact on the ‘Skins. While they were probably hoping that he could add competition to the receiver room, he wasn’t guaranteed a spot by any means. In his stead, guys like Isaiah Wright, Johnathon Johnson, and Cam Sims will have a chance to challenge for the sixth receiver spot.

And as for Hall, the Redskins will likely stash him on IR in hopes that he could turn into a gem down the line. After all, Hall is still just 23 years old, so he still has a bright future — if he can get healthy and retain his athleticism.

It’s a shame that Hall won’t get a chance to compete for a roster spot in 2020. But the Redskins receiver room will still be interesting to watch this offseason even without the unheralded player in the mix.