RELATED LINKS:
-- Snap Counts: Redskins-Panthers
-- Papa John's Redskins Touchdown Special
Derrick Mathews is getting his first shot.
The linebacker went undrafted out of the Universty of Houston and didn't latch onto a team during the past summer. He was worked out by the Packers last week and will now get a professional opportunity – on the Redskins practice squad.
The 6-foot, 221 pounder attended North Shore High School in Houston (no, not the same high school from "Mean Girls"), and was named the Houston Chronicle Defensive Player of the year in 2010.
He played four years at the University of Houston and finished his career there ranked fifth in the school's history with 400 career tackles along with 15 double-digit tackle games.
He was captain of the team in his senior year, started six games and recorded 52 tackles before suffering a season-ending ACL tear.
The Redskins also brought back linebacker Lynden Trail, who was signed to the practice squad in early October and released shortly after.
A little refresher on Trail:
He was a Norfolk State standout after transferring from the University of Florida. As a senior, he tallied 91 tackles, 11 for a loss, along with five sacks and two forced fumbles and was the first Norfolk State player to be invited to the NFL Combine since 2009.
Trail (6-foot-7, 269 pounds) played outside linebacker in the 3-4 system and was also able to put his hand in the ground when the team wanted to show opponents a four-man front. He wasn't afraid to play some tight end, too.
The Texans signed him as an undrafted free agent, and being in the Virginia area during school, he had some fans in attendance when Houston came to Richmond for Redskins training camp this past August.
.
.
.
