Predicting the Redskins Inactives Versus the Cowboys

QB Rex Grossman:

-No brainer here, both RGIII and Kirk Cousins should be good to go, which keeps Grossman on the inactive list.

S Jose Gumbs:

-Maybe with the bye week he will have surpassed either Jordan Pugh or Bacarri Rambo, but it is more likely that Gumbs continues on the inactive list this week. Both Pugh and Rambo may be on thin ice, but I doubt they want Gumbs’ first game ever to be on the road against the Cowboys. If Rambo though continues to not see the field, Gumbs could be active in the coming weeks.

LB Brandon Jenkins:

-With Rob Jackson back it will be tough to keep 5 active outside linebackers, and Jenkins is the most likely to sit given his inexperience and lack of versatility. The decision is made easier this week as Jenkins have been limited in practice this week and likely isn’t 100%.

TE Logan Paulsen:

-Paulsen is coming back from a knee injury and it is likely he will be well below 100%. The team could try to force him out there since he has practiced some, but the better call is to give him this week to rest up. The last thing the Redskins need is another questionable decision on playing a guy with a knee injury before he’s ready. This will put a lot of pressure on the other tight ends to step up, particularly in the blocking aspect where Paulsen was the strongest.

DL Chris Neild:

-Neild hasn’t participated in practice this week and is unlikely to be ready for the game. While he played solid while active, with Jarvis Jenkins back the team can use Chris Baker as the back-up NT in Neild’s absence. While the Redskins do want to shut down the Cowboys rushing attack, Dallas will probably run a lot of three wide receiver sets which would pull a defensive lineman off the field a lot anyways.

RB Chris Thompson:    

-This may not happen, but it would be the right call for the team. Thompson’s return duties have already started to get diminished as WR Josh Morgan appears to be a head of him as the kick returner. Thompson’s been a liability as a returner so far, and the Redskins can’t afford any mistakes in a game like this on the road. Another factor to consider is the fact that Alfred Morris is coming back from an injury, while he should be good to go, Evan Royster is a far better insurance policy than Thompson.

OL Josh LeRibeus:

-Maybe with the bye he will have overtaken Adam Gettis for the back-up interior offensive lineman role, but it seems doubtful. LeRibeus could even be in danger of losing his roster spot when Maurice Hurt comes off the PUP list later this year (assuming he does, the team could transfer him to IR). This is definitely not the start of the year the Redskins were hoping for from their 2012 3rd rounder.

What do you think: Who will be inactive Sunday night and who will be the Redskins biggest loss?