After some early-season roster instability, Frank Kearse not only remains on the active roster, but the Redskins could rely on him more frequently as they look for a playoff berth.

The 2015 transactions portion of his bio alone is more extensive than some veterans' that have nearly triple the NFL service he does.

At the beginning of the season, Washington Redskins defensive end Frank Kearse was cut – and then subsequently signed back – on three different occasions.

He'd be with the team through the whole week of practices before being released on Saturday morning. Then on Tuesdays, he'd re-join the team.

That constant movement would eventually stop, as he's remained on the roster over the last two months.

"I think I grew as a person and grew as a man, but I think I grew most as a player," Kearse said. "Dealing with the mental aspect of the game, knowing that no matter your situation, you have to come to work every day and put it on."

Now the 27 year old is in a position in which he could be relied upon in the Redskins' stretch run.

Kearse was active only once prior to last Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears, but with Stephen Paea now on season-ending Injured Reserve with a toe injury and Jason Hatcher limited with knee and neck issues, the Alabama A&M product enters the defensive line rotation.

Against the Bears, he logged 14 snaps while Hatcher got just 12 and Kedric Goldson only nine.

"I look forward to the opportunity to play," Kearse said. "It is a privilege to play in this league and nothing is ever given. Any opportunity I get on the field, whether it's one snap, two snaps, or 20 snaps, I'm going to be grateful for them. I'm trying to take full advantage of them."

Kearse is still the youngest defensive lineman on the active roster, one year younger than Chris Baker and two years younger than Terrance Knighton and Ricky Jean Francois.

While he gets some ribbing from his teammates as the youngest one in the group, they've been helpful in Kearse keeping a positive outlook this season.

"They all had a hand in saying a kind word for me to keep pushing or to put blinders on, to be like a horse and run your race," Kearse said. "Nobody's path in the NFL is the same."

Although his playing time will only be in spot duty for the starters for now, Kearse wants to keep grinding while he has the opportunity.

"Any time you get a chance to come to work in the National Football League is a day to learn, and the day that you stop learning as a player is the day you're walking out the door," Kearse said. "Either one of two things should happen: either they don't want you and you got too old, or your body just gave out. It's just a blessing being here and working with the older guys and learning from them."

.

.

.