Redskins Warpath – August 2019

The Redskins have a group of potentially good re-
ceivers, but for many reasons it’s almost impossible to
say they have a No. 1. At least, not entering training
camp.
The only logical candidates have not been able to
stay on the field for any measurable amount of time in
their brief Redskins’ careers and in one case, an entire
NFL career.
Paul Richardson is the most likely candidate, but
he was never healthy last year and for much of his foot-
ball journey. To put it kindly, if NFL Network was to
dedicate the show “A Football Life” to Richardson, it
would be a short one.
Richardson was hurt during training camp last year.
He played at less than 100 percent in the first half of
the season, missed the Dallas win and then was shut
down for the year after a dreadful loss to the Atlanta
Falcons.
In total, Richardson played in seven games while
racking up only 20 receptions, 262 yards and two
scores with an average of only 13.1 yards per catch.
His highlight moment was a great re-adjustment on a
deep ball by quarterback Alex Smith against the Green
Bay Packers in Week 3. His other score was in a tight
win over Carolina.
Washington paid Richardson handsomely (five
years, $40 million) in free agency to be the 2018 and
beyond version of what DeSean Jackson was for their
offense. There’s no doubt Richardson has some, if not
a lot, of Jackson’s skillset. He’s fast (4.40/40-yard dash)
which is the No. 1 similarity, but he also tracks the
football very well and for a smaller body type (6-feet,
183 pounds), wins a lot of contested, 50/50 balls.
Richardson can add a special dynamic to the Red-
skins offense that has been missing since the end of
2016 if he can stay on the field. He hasn’t been able to
do so in Washington, Seattle or even in college.
He missed four games in 2011 at Colorado as a
sophomore. He then tore his ACL in 2012, missing the
entire season. At the end of his rookie year with the
Seahawks, Richardson tore his ACL again. He missed
the first three plus months of 2015, only to return for
one game and hurt his hamstring to miss the rest of
the year.
The Redskins believed Richardson’s injury issues
were behind him as he played in 15 games in 2016 and
all 16 during a career breakout year (44 catches for 703
yards) before heading into free agency.
Richardson battle an AC joint injury and knee
problems in his first season in Washington before shut
down. He lightly participated in the offseason program
and is expected to be ready to go for training camp.
But Richardson’s not a No. 1. He can’t be until he
puts up close to 1,000 yards and stays on the field.
Could Trey Quinn be an under-the-radar choice?
He should be considered because of the sheer volume
of receptions he could rack up from the slot, as Jami-

son Crowder’s replacement if he can stay on the field.

Quinn couldn’t in his rookie year.

"Mr. Irrelevant," from his status as the final pick of

the 2018 NFL Draft, Quinn made the Redskins open-

ing 53 last year and was promptly injured on the open-

ing kickoff and put on injured reserve. He returned for

a brief stint in November, playing in two games, before

being shut down again for the rest of the season.

The reason for optimism? He was targeted 10 times

in those two games and caught nine passes for 75

yards, an 8.3 average and a score on Thanksgiving Day

against the Cowboys. He’s also a potential stud on punt

returns, averaging 13 yards per return on just four op-

portunities.

Former first-round pick Josh Doctson is another

candidate, but the No. 22 overall pick in 2016 battled

injury early on and now fights for consistency and his

NFL future.

His hands are questionable at best. He’ll make a

great catch and drop an easy one. Doctson was attrac-

tive out of TCU because of his body size, vertical abil-

ity and prowess in the red zone. He’s provided very

little of that.

The Redskins have tried and tried to get him on-

track with fades and back-shoulder throws and con-

sistently they have come up short. Washington chose

not to pick up Doctson’s fifth-year contract option for

2020, as expected, so he’s in a money year.

The only other possibility for a true No. 1 is Cam

Sims. He made the 53 last year after an impressive

camp and preseason, but was quickly injured and out

for the season. He has a long way to go in his refine-

ment at the position.

Do the Redskins have a No. 1? Not yet. Do they

have some intriguing options based largely on health?

We’ll see.

AUGUST 6, 2019 Warpath 11

Looking for a No. 1 receiver

By Chris Russell

POTENTIALLY

GOOD

If he can stay healthy,

receiver Paul Richard-

son brings a lot of

speed and excitement

to the Redskins of-

fense.