Who gets cut if the Redskins need to sign K John Potter?

The Redskins could be forced to make a roster decision today as kicker Kai Forbath is listed as questionable with a groin injury. If they don’t feel he can go, they will be signing kicker John Potter who was in camp with them this year. Potter only handled kick-off duties in the preseason, but did get opportunities in practice with field goals and extra points. For Potter to be signed though the Redskins will need to cut someone currently on the 53 man roster.

There is always a chance this would be a surprise move, but this really should be one of two players who find themselves on the chopping block today: 4th quarterback Pat White and 5th safety Jose Gumbs. While both were big surprises in making the final 53 man roster, White makes the most sense to get released.

Gumbs is definitely better suited to being on the team’s practice squad, and that was made abundantly clear when he was inactive week 1 despite starter Brandon Meriweather having to miss the game. With Meriweather back you could make the case even better that he should be released and signed to the practice squad. While that is valid reasoning, I don’t know if there is enough confidence in Meriweather’s future health for that to be practical. If Gumbs were to be released it should probably be for another safety as the team needs to ensure depth at that position.

Pat White on the other hand doesn’t really have that “need” going for him. He’s the 4th quarterback on the roster that has two young quarterbacks with a lot of upside in Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins at the top. Backing them up is a capable and confident veteran who knows the system in Rex Grossman. While there were/are injury concerns to RGIII and Kirk Cousins they aren’t enough to justify keeping Pat White. Some may point to White being able to prepare the defense for mobile quarterback Terrelle Pryor in a couple weeks as justification for keeping him around, but I don’t see that as enough of a reason.

This is an overblown thought process by fans, as it can only benefit to a certain degree. It’s clear that Pat White being on the roster didn’t help the defense slow down Michael Vick at all week one, so the idea to keep him on in the hopes that the second go around works better is a bit much. If it is such an important need to the Redskins there will be quarterbacks they could sign to their practice squad to simulate the same thing. That is a lot cheaper and doesn’t waste a valuable 53 man roster spot.

That’s who I see getting cut, how about you? Who do you think will be released if Potter is signed?