Redskins Activate CB Joshua Holsey
The Redskins activated cornerback Joshua Holsey, per a club announcement. Holsey began the season on the non-football injury list, but is finally healthy enough to get back on the field. 
[RELATED: Redskins’ Geron Christian Out For Year]
Holsey was parked on NFI during training camp when a table landed on his foot. The timing was unfortunate as Holsey figured to see a larger role in the defense following the Kendall Fuller trade.
As a rookie in 2017, Holsey played mostly on special teams and appeared in 12 games. This year, he figures to see special teams work once again, though he may see an uptick in snaps as well. He joins a cornerback depth chart that includes Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, sixth-round pick Greg Stroman, UDFA Danny Johnson, and supplemental draft pick Adonis Alexander.
In a corresponding move, the Redskins formally placed offensive lineman Geron Christian on IR.
Redskins’ Geron Christian Out For Year
Redskins tackle Geron Christian tore his MCL and is out for the season, head coach Jay Gruden announced. Thanks to injuries, the third-round rookie dressed for only two games in his first pro campaign. 
The Redskins’ offensive line has taken a beating this year. Recently, the team was also forced to shut down guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao for the season and star tackle Trent Williams is at least a couple of weeks away from returning after a thumb injury. The Redskins will use new addition Austin Howard at offensive tackle, but another signing could be on the way as they look to strengthen the front five.
Despite their setbacks, the Redskins lead the NFC East with a 6-3 record. Fresh off of a road victory over the Bucs, they’ll look for another W against the Texans on Sunday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/18
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Lance Lenoir
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cassanova McKinzy
- Waived: C Casey Dunn
Designated To Return From IR: Burkhead, Shaheen, Davis, Quinn
With more than half of the 2018 campaign in the books, NFL clubs have started to exercise their right to return players from injured reserve. Each team is allowed to bring two players back from IR, but said players must have been retained on their respective club’s initial 53-man roster. Once an IR player returns to practice, his club will have three weeks to decide whether to activate him to their 53-man roster; if he’s not activated, the player will remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Here are three players who have been designated to return from IR this week:
- Patriots running back Rex Burkhead returned to practice on Thursday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Burkhead, who is first eligible to play in Week 13 against the Vikings, is the second and final New England player who is scheduled to return from IR, joining rookie cornerback Duke Dawson. That means other injured Patriots, such as linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, cornerback Eric Rowe, and offensive lineman Brian Schwenke are officially done for the year. New England doesn’t necessarily need more help at running back: James White and jack-of-all-trades Cordarrelle Patterson have held down the fort in recent weeks, and impressive rookie Sony Michel is expected to return from injury this week. But Burkhead could still carve out a role, and will certainly be a factor on special teams.
- Second-year tight end Adam Shaheen has been designated for return by the Bears, tweets veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. Shaheen, a second-round pick in 2017, was an impressive athlete coming out of Division II Ashland last year, but didn’t produce much in the way of results during his first NFL campaign. In 13 games (seven starts), Shaheen managed only 12 receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns. Now that he’s recovered from foot and ankle issues, Shaheen should slot in alongside fellow Chicago tight ends Trey Burton and Dion Sims.
- The Packers have gotten contributions from several young receivers already this season, and they could be getting another youthful pass-catcher back in the near future. Trevor Davis returned to practice earlier this week, per Balzer, and can now be activated at any point in the next three weeks. A fifth-round choice in the 2016 draft, Davis posted 24 receptions last season while playing on 40.5% of Green Bay’s special teams snaps. Now that Geronimo Allison has been placed on injured reserve, Davis could see snaps behind Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
- Redskins rookie wide receiver Trey Quinn returned to practice today and has been designated to return from IR, tweets Balzer. Quinn suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 after being selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Washington is dealing with numerous injuries at the wide receiver position and just placed pass-catcher Paul Richardson on IR, so Quinn could theoretically see snaps down the line.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/6/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Daniel Braverman; DE Tank Carradine
Cleveland Browns
- RB Ralph Webb; WR Brice Butler
Denver Broncos
- LB Christian Kuntz
Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Ralph Webb; WR Bruce Ellington; T Andrew Nelson; LBs Cayson Collins, Brady Sheldon, Azeem Victor
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
- RB Josh Ferguson; OL Menelik Watson
Oakland Raiders
- T Roubbens Joseph (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
- G David Bright; DE George Johnson; LB Ejuan Price; CB Jalen Myrick; DB Tyson Graham
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WRs K.J. Brent, Chad Hansen, Marcus Tucker
Washington Redskins
- G Malcolm Bunche; Ts Darius James, Roubbens Joseph
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Brady Sheldon
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT De’Ondre Wesley
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: T Rick Leonard, DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Released: RB Kenneth Farrow
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Troymaine Pope
- Released: TE Tyrone Swoopes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Bernard Reedy
- Released: WR Damoun Patterson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: T Jarron Jones
- Released: T Justin Evans
Redskins Activate DL Stacy McGee
The Redskins activated defensive lineman Stacy McGee from the physically unable to perform list. To make room, they waived safety Kenny Ladler. 
[RELATED: Orleans Darkwa Rejected Redskins Offer]
McGee joined the Redskins on a five-year, $25MM contract last spring and appeared in all 16 games (ten starts) for the club in 2017, managing 44 tackles in the process. This year, he was held back by thigh surgery in June. Joining a defensive line that also includes Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, and Caleb Brantley, McGee is unlikely to start, but he could find a spot in the rotation.
Ladler was no longer needed after the Redskins acquired standout safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Packers before the trade deadline. The 26-year-old dressed for five games this year and played primarily on special teams.
Orleans Darkwa Rejected Redskins Offer
Running back Orleans Darkwa is still without a job, but he had at least one opportunity to sign with a team before the start of the season. The Redskins tried to sign the ex-Giants running back in August, but rejected their offer of a one-year deal for the minimum salary, Peter King of NBC Sports hears. 
The one-year, ~$1MM offer wasn’t good enough for Darkwa, but it was enough to get Adrian Peterson to sign. And, as it turns out, the chain of events worked out just fine for the Redskins. The 33-year-old Peterson is averaging 4.4 yards per carry through eight games, helping propel the Redskins to a 5-3 mark at the midway point.
“If we sign Darkwa, we wouldn’t have signed Adrian,”senior VP of player personnel Doug Williams said.
Darkwa’s last known audition came on Oct. 2 when he worked out for the Jaguars. He ranks as one of the best available running backs left on the market, but at this point, he may have to accept a minimum salary contract if he wants to play.
Redskins Sign G Jonathan Cooper
The Redskins’ offensive line depth chart looks incredibly different a day after the group was ravaged during a Week 9 loss to the Falcons. Multiple starters are now on IR and new faces will have to acclimate quickly.
Another newcomer will be Jonathan Cooper. The former top-10 pick-turned-journeyman signed with the Redskins on Monday. Cooper has not played this season. The 49ers signed him to a near-$5MM deal this offseason but cut him after the preseason’s conclusion.
Washington lost starting guards Brandon Scherff and Shaun Lauvao, who have since been placed on IR. Trent Williams is also dealing with an injury. Veteran Austin Howard is now on the team. So is Luke Bowanko, who joined Cooper and Howard in agreeing to terms Monday.
The Redskins also worked out offensive linemen Chris Scott, Zac Kerin and Matt McCants. Instead, they opted for some higher-profile blockers in Howard, Cooper and Bowanko. Washington remains in first place in the NFC East, sitting at 5-3, but the blowout loss to Atlanta suddenly has this somewhat surprising run in jeopardy of fizzling. The Eagles are one game back.
Cooper worked out for the Ravens in September. This latest mid-Atlantic trek is the only other known audition in which the former Cardinals first-rounder is known to have participated. Although he’s bounced around, the North Carolina alum started 13 games as the Cowboys’ left guard last season. That landed him a one-year, $4.95MM 49ers contract. But that stay was brief. San Francisco opted to go with Mike Person over Cooper as a starter.
Bowanko spent time with the Patriots this offseason but didn’t make their 53-man roster out of camp. He worked out for the Browns and Bears earlier this season.
Redskins To Sign OT Austin Howard
Redskins have agreed to sign veteran tackle Austin Howard, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Howard will help replenish an offensive line that has been rocked by injuries. 
[RELATED: Redskins Lose Scherff, Lauvao, Richardson For Season]
On Monday, the Redskins announced that guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao are done for the year with season-ending injuries. On top of that, the Redskins could be without star tackle Trent Williams for up to a month thanks to a thumb malady. Howard is the first significant addition to the Redskins’ O-Line this week, but he surely won’t be the last.
Howard has bounced around lately but has given multiple teams quality right tackle work in recent years. After playing well in spots for the Raiders from 2014-16, Howard caught on with the Ravens and gave them 16 starts at right tackle. However, the 31-year-old blocker could not commandeer the Colts’ right-side job and was released before the regular season.
Howard already banked $1.3MM this year thanks to the guarantee in his Colts deal, and he’ll have an opportunity to make some more scratch with the Redskins. He’ll also have a chance to be a hero for the Redskins, who are fighting to keep their lead in the NFC East despite their rash of injuries.