Redskins' Perine On Trade Block?
Redskins running back Samaje Perine could be a trade candidate, as ESPN.com’s John Keim writes. The Redskins have a surplus of running backs, with Derrius Guice and Chris Thompson as their lead rushers. Rob Kelley was once thought to be on the bubble, but coaches say that he looks quicker this summer than he has in previous years. The Redskins also seem to be eyeing Byron Marshall or Kapri Bibbs as their third-down back, which could leave Perine as the odd man out.
The Oklahoma product drew a great deal of attention in the 2017 draft, so other teams could be interested in giving him a shot. The Redskins, meanwhile, could net a future draft choice for him if they are comfortable enough with the rest of the group.
Examining Josh Norman's Future In DC
- Cornerback Josh Norman‘s future with the Redskins hinges on a number of factors, as John Keim of ESPN.com explains in his latest mailbag. Washington had added depth to its defensive backfield recently, and if Quinton Dunbar or 2017 third-rounder Fabian Moreau proves capable of starting this season, the Redskins could move on from Norman, who inked a five-year, $75MM deal in 2016. Financials, then, play another role in Norman’s fate in the nation’s capital. After counting for a massive $20MM on the Redskins’ salary cap in 2017, Norman’s charge will decrease to roughly $17MM this year and $14,5MM in 2019. Washington would save $8.5MM by cutting Norman before June of 2019, and $11.5MM by designating him a post-June 1 release.
Josh Doctson Doesn't Need Heel Drained
- Josh Doctson has suffered another injury, a shoulder setback, but contrary to a previous assessment, the Redskins target won’t be out too long. NBC Sports Washington’s Brian Mitchell, a longtime Redskins return man, said Doctson also needed to have his heel drained earlier this week. Jay Gruden, though, refuted that. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a heel being drained,” Gruden said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “So I don’t know where that came from. That is not true, but he’s going to do a little something out here today. We’ll see. I’d be surprised if he went full-go, but he did not have his heel drained.” Doctson has struggled to stay healthy during his NFL career. The 2016 first-rounder missed all of his rookie year because of Achilles trouble and encountered hamstring issues last year.
Redskins Notes: Smith, Thompson
Linebacker Preston Smith is slated to be a free agent after the season, but the Redskins have yet to approach him about a new deal (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com). The Redskins have hammered out pre-season extensions with key players in the past such as Trent Williams, Ryan Kerrigan, and Jordan Reed, but Smith is still waiting on that call. For what it’s worth, Smith says he’s staying patient.
“You play good; they’re going to pay good,” said Smith, who matched a career-high with eight sacks last season.
If Smith is not signed to a new deal and can offer a repeat performance, he could be in store for riches in March. For now, the former second-round pick is set to play out the final year of his contract as he earns a modest $1.2MM base salary.
Here’s more from D.C.:
- Redskins running back Chris Thompson says he likely won’t be fully recovered from his broken fibula until November (Twitter link via Keim). Thompson has had a handful of surgeries in his career, but he says that this has been his most challenging recovery to date. Thompson suffered the broken leg last November, so he’s looking at a full year before being back to 100%. It’s a frustrating situation for Thompson, who was in the midst of a breakout campaign before being sidelined in 2017. Heading into Week 11, Thompson had posted 771 yards from scrimmage, a total that had already topped his previous career high, and was averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He was even more effective in the passing game, where he recorded 38 receptions for 494 yards.
- Recently, the Redskins extended the contract of backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
- On Wednesday, the Redskins added linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas to the roster.
Redskins Sign LB/DE Dadi Nicolas
The Redskins have signed linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas, according to a team announcement. To make room, the team has waived offensive lineman Alex Balducci. 
Nicolas, 26 in September, joined the Chiefs as a sixth-round pick in 2016, and the Chiefs soon announced their intention to move him from defensive end to linebacker. The position switch never quite off the ground, however, as Nicolas appeared sparingly in eleven games during his rookie campaign before a ruptured patellar ended his season. He hasn’t seen the field since.
The Chiefs actually completed a trade involving Nicolas earlier this year, sending him to the Browns in exchange for tight end Randall Telfer. That deal was later voided, however, and though no specific reason was given, failed physicals are known to regularly cancel transactions. Kansas City subsequently waived him, leading him to the Seahawks in May. However, he was released one month later.
At 6″3, 225 pounds, Nicolas could see time at either linebacker or defensive end for the Redskins, if he makes the roster. The Redskins edge rushing crew is headlined by Matthew Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, and Preston Smith. Nicolas will fight for a spot in reserve, alongside new outside linebacker Pernell McPhee.
Redskins' Gruden OK With Pressure
Expectations are high for the Redskins this year, but that doesn’t bother head coach Jay Gruden.
In Gruden’s opinion, this year’s Redskins roster is the club’s most talented since he was hired in 2014. Indeed, the Redskins do have more depth on the defensive line and at running back than they’ve had in years past, but the quarterback position remains a question mark for most. The Redskins believe that Alex Smith is an upgrade over Kirk Cousins, but plenty of people in the football world disagree with that notion.
Redskins Sign QB Colt McCoy To Extension
The Redskins have extended quarterback Colt McCoy through the 2019 season. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the organization has signed the 31-year-old to a one-year extension that can be worth up to $7MM.
In a follow-up tweet, Rapoport notes that McCoy could still have the ability to hit free agency next summer. The deal contains a “void and buyback provision,” and if the quarterback hits the “void criteria,” the organization will have the ability to buyback for six different amounts, each of which is based on playing time and performance. McCoy it set to earn a $2.8MM base salary in what would have been the final season of his contract in 2018. He originally inked a three-year, $9MM extension with the organization back in 2016.
After spending the first four years of his career with the Browns and 49ers, the 2010 third-round has found a home in Washington. The quarterback has spent the past four seasons with the Redskins, including a 2015 campaign where he completed 71.1-percent of his passes for 1,057 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games (four starts). However, McCoy slid into a backup role following the emergence of Kirk Cousins, and he’s only appeared in a single regular season game over the past two seasons.
It will likely be more of the same for McCoy in 2018. While Cousins is gone, the team added veteran signal-caller Alex Smith this past offseason. McCoy will likely serve as Smith’s backup, with Kevin Hogan rounding out the depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Terrance Parks
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DL Tenny Palepoi
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Cam Serigne
- Released: DT Drew Iddings
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Mark Chapman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Adonis Jennings, Kyle Lewis
Indianpolis Colts
- Signed: S Shamarko Thomas
- Waived: CB Juante Baldwin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OL Donavon Clark
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Aaron Lacombe, WR Khadarel Lott, WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR Ricky Jeune
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Izaah Lunsford
- Waived: TE Kyle Carter, P Taylor Symmank
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived/injured: DB Trey Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Josh Liddell, T Jerry Ugokwe
- Waived/Injured: DT Channing Ward
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Claude Pelon
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Prince Charles Iworah
- Waived/Injured: RB Keith Marshall
Redskins Josh Holsey Suffers Injury
- A freak accident will sideline Redskins cornerback Joshua Holsey for the start of training camp and could potentially impact his availability for the start of the season, according to Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). A table fell on Holsey’s foot, sources say, and he will be forced to go on the PUP or NFI list for at least the beginning of camp. Holsey, a seventh-round pick of Washington last year, appeared in 12 games as a rookie.
Chris Thompson Avoids Washington PUP
- Chris Thompson said Monday he will avoid the Redskins‘ PUP list. Washington’s passing-down back broke one of his fibulas in November but has worked his way back. He’s expected to remain the Redskins’ receiving back. “I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Thompson said during a Sirius XM Radio interview (via PFT). “I will start practicing with the guys from Day 1 but just taking it slowly. The focus is to really be ready by that first regular-season game.”