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Washington Football Team: Five players to watch in Week 1

By Ian Cummings

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Redskins looks on after the game against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Redskins looks on after the game against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 15: Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Football Team looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 15: Troy Apke #30 of the Washington Football Team looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

No. 4 – FS Troy Apke

There was supposed to be a battle at free safety in training camp. The Washington Football Team signed longtime Steelers starter Sean Davis, and presented him with almost no challenges, at least on the surface, in his immediate roster vicinity.

But then training camp came. First, it was revealed that Troy Apke had begun as the team’s first-team free safety. Through one week, he kept that role. Through two weeks, he kept that role. And at the conclusion of the offseason, Washington cut Davis, sending a ringing endorsement for Apke.

Apke only has seventeen games and two starts under his belt since entering the league in 2018, but whatever he did in the 2020 offseason gave Ron Rivera and the new coaching staff confidence that he would be able to contribute. Apke’s always had the elite athleticism, but refining the details of his game took more time to accomplish.

Now, on Sunday, we’ll get our first chance to see if Apke has truly developed. Will he be playing faster, with more authority, and better angles? If he does, Washington could have another playmaker on the back end.

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