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Assessing Washington Football Team’s safety options after Landon Collins’ injury

By Jonathan Eig

Jan 11, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens free safety Earl Thomas (29) reacts after making a tackle during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens free safety Earl Thomas (29) reacts after making a tackle during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a AFC Divisional Round playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2019; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Taam defensive back Jeremy Reaves (39) reacts during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2019; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Taam defensive back Jeremy Reaves (39) reacts during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

In-house options

With Collins gone, WFT has just three safeties on the 55-man roster. Unless the coaches are willing to give Apke another shot (which I don’t think anyone wants to see), veteran special teamer Everett and seventh-round rookie draft pick Curl are the starting safeties. Neither has the speed you’d like to see in quality safety, but both can tackle.

Instead, the team could focus on some other options that could do well with more playing time.

Sign Jeremy Reaves off the practice squad

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Jeremy Reaves is on the practice squad, and it seems likely he will be called up to the roster. Reaves can play both corner and safety. He played some late in the 2019 season and he showed enough for the team to keep him around this year.

From his limited body of work, Reaves looked like a player who could provide serviceable depth in the secondary. Not a rave review, I know. But Washington doesn’t need raves at the safety position right now. They need someone steady.

Convert a cornerback to the safety position

There are other in-house options available. Kendall Fuller is versatile enough to play anywhere in the secondary, and he could certainly slide into Collins’ role. But I do not want to move the team’s best corner to a new position. Fuller, Ronald Darby, and Jimmy Moreland are not exactly the Legion of Boom, but they are an improving unit.

I would be more inclined to move Moreland back to safety, though I think that is a bad idea too. As tough as he is, Moreland would still be physically overmatched in run support, and his reckless aggressiveness might lead to Collins-esque, results. I think one day, Jimmy Moreland might be a safety. But not today.

Why Danny Johnson should get a shot at safety

Out of all the players currently on the roster, the one I would most like to see get a shot at safety is Danny Johnson. But then, as regular readers know, I am a Danny Johnson fan. His frame is a little sturdier than those of Moreland and Greg Stroman, and I always think punt returners possess a natural ability to survey a wide expanse of field and make quick decisions, which is exactly what a safety has to do.

If the team decides to move one of the current corners back to safety, they have options on the practice squad, such as the aforementioned Reaves, or Aaron Colvin, who could be called up to provide added depth at corner.

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