Predicting the Redskins Inactives Week 3
This week is a lot tougher to predict with 5 players listed as questionable on the injury report. Instead of giving one prediction I’ll present a couple different scenarios and my take on each one:
If Everyone is Healthy: What I’d do
QB Rex Grossman
NT Chris Neild
-Grossman, Potter, Gumbs and LeRibeus are basically no brainers (if everyone is healthy). I’d also prefer the versatility of Evan Royster over keeping a spot for just a return man in Thompson. If everyone is healthy Neild will likely sit, given that the Lions will likely spread the field forcing the Redskins into their nickel package more often. Aldrick Robinson is a bit of a surprise, but he’s yet to do much on the field and the Redskins are going to have a tough time consistently keeping 5 WR’s and 4 TE’s active. Though I considered sitting Meriweather, I don’t think Gumbs is ready to take his spot and the Redskins should have 4 safeties active.
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If Everyone is Healthy: What I think will happen:
QB Rex Grossman
K John Potter
G Josh LeRibeus
S Jose Gumbs
RB Evan Royster
NT Chris Neild
-The only real difference is keeping Thompson over Royster and rolling with just three safeties.
If the Redskins need to keep 2 Kickers Active:
QB Rex Grossman
RB Chris Thompson
RB Evan Royster
G Josh LeRibeus
S Jose Gumbs
S Jordan Pugh
DL Chris Neild
-I would do it a little differently with some of the other positions, but I think the right move to keep two kickers active would be to sit the return guy only. He brings the least amount to the 46 man game day roster, and it is impossible to justify keeping 5 special teams spots open.
If none of the Questionable players can play:
QB Rex Grossman
RB Evan Royster
-This would be the worst case scenario for the Redskins as they would be without two of their starting defensive linemen and only dress four for the game. This would cripple their run defense and make it tougher to get pressure on the quarterback. Having Forbath out would significantly handicap the offense as they will be forced to continue to decide to punt or go for it, in a number of situations where you would typically kick a field goal. The losses of Hankerson and to a lesser extent Meriweather would be felt as well.
What I think will end up happening:
QB Rex Grossman
RB Evan Royster
DL Kedric Golston
S Brandon Meriweather
S Jose Gumbs
-This is tough to predict, but I don’t think Mike Shanahan wants to keep two kickers active. And the fact that Forbath was not able to kick on Friday the day that was supposed to determine his chances of playing is a bad sign. Hankerson tweaking his groin and hamstring just two days prior to the game, makes it unlikely that he’ll be ready to go on Sunday. The Redskins can’t afford to dress a player who could aggravate the injury at any time. Golston has been limited all week, and with Cofield probable and Bowen dealing with injuries I can’t see the Redskins keeping 3 defensive linemen with question marks next to their names. As for Meriweather that could go either way, but the Redskins should risk bringing him back too soon, especially since he wasn’t able to practice much this week. That is just asking for mistakes in the secondary, which is what they are trying to limit.
*Note: with TE Fred Davis listed as Questionable, he will likely be inactive and would be on all these lists with the exception of the injury-free one.
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