ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Football Team opens the 2021 NFL regular season on Sept. 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers at FedEx Field. Washington finished the 2020 season 7-9, good for first place in the NFC East.
Washington has, finally, constructed a roster with more depth. It has taken a few years to reach this point, but it will cut players from multiple spots who appeal to other teams, which hasn't been the case in recent seasons. There aren't a lot of questions about starting jobs, but the most difficult spots to cut were defensive back and wide receiver, where the team added veterans Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries and drafted Dyami Brown.
The team also has more quality offensive linemen and the roster is better positioned, it hopes, to withstand injuries. That will be crucial in a 17-game season.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen
Nothing changed here from the projection before training camp, though if Washington really likes what it saw from Steven Montez, it could always keep him on the practice squad and cut Allen. But that seems unlikely. Montez remains a raw prospect and not yet ready if, because of injuries, he had to become the No. 2 quarterback. Fitzpatrick, of course, will start.
RUNNING BACK (4): Antonio Gibson, Peyton Barber, J.D. McKissic, Jaret Patterson
Patterson played his way onto the roster and, if needed, could become their kick returner. In a year, he could become their third-down back, but McKissic is still good in that role. Barber serves as Gibson's primary backup and is preferred in short-yardage situations.
TIGHT END (3): Logan Thomas, John Bates, Sammis Reyes
The last spot is a difficult one. Reyes' attempt to become the first Chilean to make an NFL roster hasn't been smooth, but he is already considered the team's blocking tight end. Washington also gave him $395,000 in guaranteed money and won't want to lose him. It could keep Ricky Seals-Jones on the practice squad in case it needs another tight end who can provide immediate help.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries Dyami Brown, Cam Sims, Antonio Gandy-Golden, DeAndre Carter
Whether the team will keep seven is debatable, but it needs a punt returner and the choice will come down to Carter, Dax Milne or Isaiah Wright. Milne would definitely be placed on the practice squad and is worth developing. Carter gets the first crack because he has more experience and can be dynamic, but there is a red flag: he has an NFL-high seven fumbles on punt returns since 2018. If Washington only keeps six, Gandy-Golden, a fourth-round draft pick in 2020, is firmly on the bubble.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Charles Leno Jr., Ereck Flowers, Chase Roullier, Brandon Scherff, Sam Cosmi, Cornelius Lucas, Wes Schweitzer, Saahdiq Charles, Tyler Larsen
Washington could easily keep 10 in this position group, and with 17 games that might be a necessity. But there are a few who can sneak on to the practice squad, such as veteran tackle David Sharpe, who missed the first three weeks of training camp while on the COVID-19 list, or second-year guard/center Keith Ismael.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Chase Young, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill
There wasn't much room to earn a spot among this group. Toohill has missed time with a toe injury, but entered camp as the No. 4 end and nobody was able to unseat him. Washington did not want him to rush back from his injury, giving him time to make sure he was ready for the season. Will Bradley-King, Daniel Wise and possibly Shaka Toney could earn spots on the practice squad.
LINEBACKER (5): Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb, Jamin Davis, Khaleke Hudson, David Mayo
Washington needs better depth at linebacker, but it has good special teams players and that's why Mayo and Hudson will make the roster. Jared Norris is right there, so if Washington keeps six -- as it did in 2020 -- he would likely be the guy. Joe Walker and Jordan Kunaszyk are two to watch for the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (6): William Jackson III, Kendall Fuller, Benjamin St-Juste, Jimmy Moreland, Torry McTyer, Troy Apke
Another tough one. Danny Johnson warrants a roster spot somewhere as a backup/special-teamer. Apke switched from safety, and the staff believes he has progressed enough to help from scrimmage. He sticks because of special teams, where coach Ron Rivera called him an "ace ... guys like that are hard to find." McTyer can play inside or outside and fared well when he started working against the starters and key backups. One team source said the team would likely keep two guys defensively whose job was mostly about special teams. St-Juste has had a strong summer.
SAFETY (5): Landon Collins, Kamren Curl, Bobby McCain, Deshazor Everett, Darrick Forrest
It's difficult to keep Jeremy Reaves off the roster; he can help on multiple special teams and from scrimmage. Forrest can play special teams and can develop into a contributor from scrimmage. He's also a 2021 fifth-round draft pick, so it's hard to see him being cut. Reaves always finds his way back, however.
SPECIALIST (3): Tress Way (P), Dustin Hopkins (PK), Camaron Cheeseman (LS)
There was no competition in camp for any of these spots. That is not a surprise for Way, who is among the NFL's best punters, or Cheeseman, whom Washington drafted in the sixth round this year, but Hopkins is coming off a season in which he made 79% of his kicks. That must improve.