ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Football Team opens training camp Wednesday at Bon Secours Facility in Richmond, Virginia. Washington finished the 2020 season 7-9, good for first place in the NFC East. The franchise has not reached the playoffs in consecutive years since the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
Washington returns 15 starters from last season's team as well as coach Ron Rivera and coordinators Scott Turner (offense), Jack Del Rio (defense) and Nate Kaczor (special teams). Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen
Fitzpatrick will enter camp as the No. 1 quarterback and, as long as he handles his business, that's how he will start the 2021 season. But if the turnovers become an issue, Heinicke will take over. There's a lot to like based on how Heinicke played in his five quarters last season; there's also a lot to question based on his past. But he's an intriguing option.
RUNNING BACK (3): Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, Peyton Barber
It's hard to imagine the team only keeping three running backs (it nearly did this last season), but offensive line and wide receiver are more stacked and the staff will want to keep extra bodies at those spots. The team would only keep three running backs active, so it will have practice-squad options (such as undrafted free agent Jaret Patterson). Ultimately, it depends on how veteran Lamar Miller looks in camp; he could force the team to keep four running backs, but that means a tough call elsewhere.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, Dyami Brown, Cam Sims, Antonio Gandy-Golden
This will be a difficult call. They can place 2021 seventh-rounder Dax Milne on the practice squad, for now, but it will be a close call for him and Kelvin Harmon, who is coming off a torn ACL. It's possible Washington keeps seven wideouts. Regardless, it's a far deeper unit than a year ago with the additions of Samuel, Humphries and Brown, and the continued improvement of Sims.
TIGHT END (3): Logan Thomas, John Bates, Ricky Seals-Jones
Thomas and Bates are the easy picks, and entering camp Seals-Jones gets the nod because he is more experienced. But Rivera liked what he saw from Temarrick Hemingway this spring, so he has a chance. Sammis Reyes, the former basketball player from Chile, needs time to develop and can do so on the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Charles Leno Jr., Saahdiq Charles, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Sam Cosmi, Cornelius Lucas, Wes Schweitzer, Ereck Flowers, David Sharpe, Tyler Larsen
Washington's depth has been vastly improved the past two offseasons, which is why there will be a hard decision or two to make here. Guard/center Keith Ismael, a fifth-round pick in 2020, was tough to leave off but can be placed on the practice squad. The good news for Washington is that it should be able to withstand the grind of a 17-game season with the players it has here.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Chase Young, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill
Rookies Shaka Toney and Will Bradley-King can force their way on as the fourth defensive end, but Toohill rates an edge because he's bigger (enabling him to also play run downs), he can play special teams and he had a good offseason. While that is a position with two outstanding young players, it's not a deep one. Toney, whom the team was excited about drafting in the seventh round, or Bradley-King could be stashed on the practice squad as they develop. Washington is stacked in the middle; it helps that Smith-Williams can play inside and outside.
LINEBACKER (6): Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb, Jamin Davis, Khaleke Hudson, David Mayo, Jordan Kunaszyk
Washington needs more depth at this spot, but will be helped by the addition of Davis, who will increase the speed and athleticism of the group. Bostic and Holcomb also will start, and Hudson can provide help in a big nickel role when needed.
CORNERBACK (5): William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, Jimmy Moreland, Darryl Roberts
The last spot will be tough to determine, because Danny Johnson has a good chance to earn it. It could come down to his ability to return kicks. And a big part of this will be determined by how the team thinks Troy Apke has handled the conversion from safety. The team would love to keep his speed and special teams' ability on the roster, but he has to show he can help at corner if needed after struggling at safety.
SAFETY (6): Kamren Curl, Landon Collins, Deshazor Everett, Jeremy Reaves, Bobby McCain, Darrick Forrest
With Collins coming off a torn Achilles, Forrest could earn a spot as a backup to Curl. Collins insists he will be ready for Week 1, but Forrest can provide help on special teams if nothing else. Free safety will be a position to watch, again, as Everett, Reaves and McCain compete for the starting job and, perhaps, only two roster spots.
SPECIALISTS (3): Camaron Cheeseman, Tress Way, Dustin Hopkins
Another easy one. Washington drafted Cheeseman to replace long-time snapper Nick Sundberg (who was cut this offseason). Way, who is entering his eighth season in Washington, continues to improve as a punter. During Hopkins' first six seasons in Washington, he ranks 22nd in field goal percentage among kickers who have appeared in at least 50 games. He made 79.4% of his field goals last season.