Following a tryout earlier today, the Redskins have signed free agent wide receiver Dez Stewart, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Washington has since confirmed the transaction.
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Stewart was evidently a part of a morning Redskins workout session that included quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Marlon Brown. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that other pass-catchers were involved in the tryout, and given that Stewart was signed to a contract, Brown (and the other receivers present) might be out of luck. Washington, which now has a full 90-man offseason roster, already has a well-stocked group of receivers, as Roster Resource shows the club boasting DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder, first-round pick Josh Doctson, and others on its depth chart.
An undrafted free agent out of Ohio Dominican, Stewart signed with the Buccaneers in May, only to be placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter — he was waived off IR in early June. The 6’2″, 200-pound Stewart accumulated more than 3,000 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns across 40 career collegiate games, and also excelled as a kick returner, a role he might need to play to earn a spot on the Redskins’ roster.
Meanwhile, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets that Clausen’s presence at the workout shoudn’t raise any eyebrows, as the former second-round pick was simply in attendance to throw passes. However, Clausen is on Washington’s emergency list should something happen to one of their current quarterbacks, a list that includes Kirk Cousins, Colt McCoy, and Zach Sudfeld.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.