Predicting the Redskins Inactives for Sunday Night Football

QB Rex Grossman-

-Like every week this is a lock for one of the inactive spots. Despite the fact that the Redskins are hoping he never has to dress this year, this has not been by any stretch a waste of a roster spot. So many other teams have been scrambling for quarterbacks this year, it’s nice to know that the Redskins are set here.

G Josh LeRibeus-

-Sadly LeRibeus is considered a lock for the inactive list as well. That isn’t a good thing when two guys drafted behind him are getting game day spots and he hasn’t even been given a shot. When Maurice Hurt comes back in a week, LeRibeus could find his roster spot on thin ice and may be cut to make room for him.

LB Brandon Jenkins-

-It would be nice to see Jenkins get some more playing time, but he’s the rookie at the Redskins deepest position. Maybe when the Redskins are mathematically out of it they will consider getting him on the active roster and getting him a few snaps a game, but that probably isn’t a lock.

WR Josh Bellamy-

-The Redskins signed Bellamy  this past week when Stephen Bowen went on IR. Bellamy is team’s 7th receiver and isn’t really an option for the active roster at all.

WR Lance Lewis-

-Lewis was signed to the active roster after Leonard Hankerson went on IR. The Redskins could maybe give him a shot over Nick Williams, but I think Williams offers a bit more versatility. With Niles Paul out, Williams could be asked to fill in at KR tonight. Something you wouldn’t ask Lewis to do.

TE Niles Paul-

-This is going to be a real interesting decision. Paul has been sick all week and hasn’t been able to go in practice. While the team is optimistic about him being active publicly, I can’t imagine they are too confident overall. Even if he can “go”, he won’t be 100% and the Redskins have basically said if he’s healthy he would only play special teams, meaning he couldn’t fill in at FB or TE. Given the limited upside to playing him the Redskins should just rest Paul. Though Paul is one of their few quality special teams players, this unit is so bad that they will make big mistakes with or without him. The interesting thing will be who will return kicks without Paul in there. It could be Morgan again, but he’s now the starter. Nick Williams is an option, but given his punt return issues that could be scary. My guess is we’ll see Evan Royster returning kicks tonight.

FB Darrel Young-

-Young wasn’t able to go Monday night, and he’s been limited in practice all week. While the hope is he’d be back for tonight’s game, I don’t know how much confidence the Redskins should have. Young was taking just a few reps at the end of the week of practice, so he wasn’t a full go. While his loss would hurt both the rushing attack and the special teams, it’s probably better to have him sit another week rather than have him less than 100% out there and risk aggravating the injury. With Young and Paul out, I think we’d see Logan Paulsen get some looks in the fullback role. We may even see Royster being asked to lead block.