Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan announced the signing of cornerback Chase Minnfield to the team's active roster from its practice squad.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We feel like he's earned a right – the way he practices, the way he handles himself and he can play the corner or he can play inside in a Nickel situation," Shanahan explained. "We just like the way he's developed and how he's handled himself.
"That's what you're constantly doing, evaluating guys in practice. We just thought he would be a guy that we should bring up, and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully, we stay healthy."
Minnifield (6-0, 186) originally signed with the Redskins as a college free agent on May 3, 2012.
He spent the 2012 season on the team's Reserve/Injured list and spent the first 12 weeks of the 2013 season on the team's practice squad.
After so much time around the team, Minnifield said he is confident he can make an impact.
"It's good. This isn't an everyday thing," he said. "Whether I'm on the team, not on the team, I'm always just going to continue to work hard in anything I'm trying to do.
"I'm just getting out there and trying to get better every day."
Minnifield, 24, played collegiately at Virginia, where he appeared in 48 games with 25 starts. He earned first-team All-ACC honors as a senior in 2011.
Especially with Niles Paul (illness) listed as questionable and unable to practice this week, Minnifield could be a key addition to special teams, along with recently-promoted receiver Josh Bellamy.
"My whole life I've been a returner or a kicker or a punter or something like that," he said. "I'm still learning the team special blocking and reading and stuff. I think I'll get better at it.
"I'm still learning everything but...I'm actually at full speed."
Minnifield attended Henry Clay H.S. (Lexington, Ky.) and received first team all-state honors as a defensive back his senior year.
He was born on March 31, 1989. His father, Frank, was a Pro Bowl cornerback who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1984-92.
Read More about Minnifield's path to the 53-man roster.
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