Four questions Redskins fans want answered at training camp

Training camp for the Washington Redskins fires up in Richmond in eight days. As is typical with the Burgundy and Gold there are several question marks that fans are looking for answers to as the team gears up for the 2019 season. The last several weeks have been filled with the drama of injuries and holdouts and the HTTR nation is hoping that the opening of camp will put an end to any lingering questions or doubts. Below you will find the top four questions that fans (and the team) is looking for answers to from July 25 until opening Sunday in Philadelphia.

4. Who will step up as the team’s number one receiver?

The Redskins are very blessed with potential when it comes to the wide receiver position. Potential, however, has meant little when it comes to production out of the position.

Josh Doctson has been blessed with potential since becoming the team’s first round draft pick in the 2016 draft. However, that has never translated to success on the field and the “bust” label is appearing to fit tighter and tighter as years pass. He has all the physical tools, and has flashed brilliance ever so occasionally. Doctson is a free agent at the end of the season and has clearly stated that he intends to become a free agent. Could a bit pay day be a motivator for a guy that appears to lack in that area?

The team signed Paul Richardson during the 2018 off-season with extremely high hopes, and paid him accordingly. Richardson has speed and is a strong route runner. Staying healthy for an entire season is a separate matter, however. Richardson has played in 16 games only once during his five year career and last season was particularly bad on the injury front. The former Seahawk was plagued with injuries and ailments all year before landing on injured reserve in week 10. In Seattle, Richardson showed that he has the potential to be a steady receiver, the question is whether his health will allow that to happen.

Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn, is the darling of many Redskins fans and media members alike. During his brief amount of playing time last year, Quinn showed the ability to run solid routes and had sure hands. As with Richardson, however, Quinn had a difficult time staying healthy. He appeared in only three games catching nine passes for 75 yards. Jay Gruden has anointed the second year man as the starter for the inside slot position. If he can stay healthy, he can be extremely productive there in 2019.

Cam Sims is often a forgotten guy in this mix. Sims was an undrafted free agent that impressed in camp and preseason last year, looking like a lock for playing time in 2018. One play into his NFL debut, however, that all changed as he was lost for the season with a high ankle sprain. Sims turned in an impressive mini-camp and looks to shed his forgotten label in the upcoming season.

The Redskins drafted two receivers that have the potential to be exciting and effective this season. Given the injury history of the other receivers on the roster, they may have to be. Terry McLaurin was a teammate of Dwayne Haskins’ at Ohio State and showed up big at the draft combine. If Haskins is named the starter, McLaurin could have a big rookie season. If Haskins does not start, McLaurin could have a big rookie season. The talent is there if the Redskins find the right way to use him. Kelvin Harmon was graded as a second round draft pick by some draft experts and the Redskins drafted him in the sixth round. Harmon has all of the traits to be a big outside threat for the team and should exceed his draft position fairly quickly. It remains to be seen whether that will be 2019 or not.

My take: Josh Doctson steps up in his walk year and finally realizes his potential. Of course, this will be a blessing and a curse for the Redskins, as he will take that season all the way to the bank and likely don another uniform in 2020.

3. How serious is Darius Guice’s injury?

Redskins fans got a dose of deja-vu this weekend when 106.7, The Fan reported that Darius Guice had injured his hamstring. Fans and the media immediately jumped to the worst conclusions, labeling the second year running back as injury prone and a possible bust of a draft pick. Everyone is a bit gun shy, of course, as Guice tore his ACL last season during the first preseason game. Reports immediately began to surface that the hamstring injury was actually weeks old and nothing to be concerned about. Guice, himself, took to twitter to state that he wasn’t listening to the “noise” and that he knows what is going on with his body. When a twitter follower informed Guice that a lot of people are freaking out, the LSU standout replied, “For no reason.” On Tuesday, Guice posted a photo to his snapchat showing him completing some very explosive drills. This may have talked some fans off of the ledge.

My take: Guice may be limited in camp, but we will see him practice and play in pre-season games. Fans tend to overreact a bit to injuries, which is justified given the team’s recent injury history.

2. Will Trent Williams hold out?

Starting left tackle, perennial pro-bowler Trent Williams skipped out on the Redskins’ mandatory mini-camp in June and rumors began to fly. Reports began to surface that the Redskins best lineman was unhappy and wanted a contract extension believing that he was deserving of a raise. Others then began to report that Williams was unhappy on multiple fronts and vowed never to play for the team again. For his part, Williams has not publicly acknowledged the reason for his absence, but did take to Instagram to post about a medical procedure that he was undergoing. How long will Williams’ hold-out last? If anyone knows, they aren’t sharing.

My take: Trent Williams will be back for training camp. We have heard nothing official from Williams and it is quite possible that the team and the tackle are working on this behind the scenes.

1. Who will emerge as the starting quarterback?

It appears to be a given that Alex Smith will not start for the Washington Redskins in 2019. That leaves the team with three potential starters headed into Philadelphia for week one. Some have suggested that Jay Gruden still likes Colt McCoy as his starter and his familiarity with the offense could be a plus for a team with two quarterbacks new to the system. McCoy, however, has a long injury history and did not fair too well in his starts last season. Journeyman signal caller, Case Keenum was acquired in March, along with a seventh round pick, from the Denver Broncos for a sixth round pick. Keenum was impressive with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, leading them to the Conference Championship before becoming a free agent in the off-season. His year with the Broncos was uneven, at best, leading the team to a 6-10 record while throwing 15 interceptions to go with 18 touchdowns. Adrian Peterson let it be known that he thinks that Keenum can get the job done. “With Case Keenum, the quarterback runs everything, right?” Peterson said this weekend at SportsCon 2019 in Dallas, via Patrik Walker of 247Sports. “Offensively, we really look good with Case Keenum back there. He’s a veteran. He’s been in the league for a long time. He’s a gunslinger. He’s a guy that’s going to throw the ball and spread it around.” Finally, the Redskins seem to be giving every opportunity for their prized draft pick, Dwayne Haskins, to be under center for game one. Haskins has impressed Redskins coaches with a great work ethic and sharp football mind. His lack of NFL experience could be the top reason that Haskins hold a clipboard for the bulk of the season, particularly given that Redskins brass expects the team to compete in 2019.

My take: I think Keenum gets the nod in Philadelphia and remains the starter until the Redskins are eliminated from the playoffs. Fans want to see the shiny new quarterback on the field, but Jay Gruden is likely to play it safe, especially given that the first five games on the schedule look daunting.