By John Pappas
Skinscast Editor
The practices are finished, there are no more games to be played, and all the players can do now is wait for the final roster cuts to be announced. NFL teams will announce final cuts tomorrow at 4PM. When that happens, 22 players currently on the Redskins will become unemployed.
Since the season ended, Washington has been signing players to the expanded 80-man offseason roster. Tuesday they cut down to 75. Saturday it will be the final 53. Coming into the final preseason game against Arizona, a few position battles raged, specifically at wide receiver, running back, corner back, and backup quarterback. So who helped themselves this preseason, and who stands to have a job Sunday?
Wide receiver
With Malcolm Kelly going to IR, and very solid play by Anthony Armstrong, this may have turned into a three-way battle for two spots between Brandon Banks, Terrence Austin, and Devin Thomas. Thomas was a starter last year, but a new coaching staff had Thomas playing well into the second half over the preseason. Banks flashed early with a 77-yard punt return in the first game against Buffalo but seemed to fade late, and Austin came on in the final two games with nice catches and effective special teams play.
Advantage: Austin and Thomas – The story of the final two spots was written in special teams as much as with the offense. While Banks’ early return gave him the early advantage, subsequent fumbles hurt him. Meanwhile Austin was solid, if not spectacular on returns, and Thomas shined on kick returns against the Cardinals, with a 27-yard return average.
