The Washington Redskins on Sunday released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of Thursday's 2017 preseason opener against the Ravens in Baltimore.

With the Washington Redskins' first preseason game just days away, the team on Sunday released its first unofficial depth chart.

The coaching staff has continuously noted this offseason that while there's a depth chart, position battles will be contested up until the cutdown from 90 players to 53.

"We feel good about our depth. Like I said, it's the best I've felt about our depth this year in training camp, at every position," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden at the beginning of camp. "You know, the challenge is going to be to get everybody the reps, let them all compete to find out the best 53, that's the most important thing. We have got to utilize the time out here on the practice fields and in the preseason games, we have to really manage playing time effectively to give these guys opportunities to show what they can do so we pick the right 53 for [Week 1 against] Philly."

The most notable position group in terms of solidifying a depth chart so far has been the defensive line under Jim Tomsula in his first season with the Redskins.

"We're D-line," Tomsula said this week. "We're not nose, end. We're D-line. You get into a game and you've got only so many guys that have got helmets on, and we've got to be able to finish the game, so everybody is going to have to cross train."

Tomsula has been testing all sorts of different defensive line combinations during training camp, but on the first unofficial depth chart of the year Ziggy Hood and Stacy McGee are listed as the starting defensive ends while Phil Taylor Sr. is the starting nose tackle.

Even though the three veterans are at those spots, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and Tomsula will continue to evaluate the 11 defensive lineman on the roster evenly.

As for first-round pick Jonathan Allen, he is listed behind McGee at one of the defensive end positions followed by Anthony Lanier II and Brandon Banks. Behind Hood, meanwhile, is Terrell McClain and then Matt Ioannidis.

Then at the nose tackle spot, Taylor is joined by A.J. Francis, Joey Mbu and Ondre Pipkins.

Rest of the depth chart

Here are some additional notes from the first unofficial Redskins depth chart this season. Also not that tight end Jordan Reed, wide receiver Kendal Thompson and safety DeAngelo Hall are not listed on the depth chart currently as they remain on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Offense

--This unit – at least in terms of the starters – is almost exactly the same as it was during the final weeks of the regular season last year. The Redskins return the same starting offensive line in Trent Williams, Shawn Lauvao, Spencer Long, Brandon Scherff and Morgan Moses. Kirk Cousins, of course, is the team's starting quarterback and Robert Kelley returns as the top running back.

--With Reed still on PUP, the depth chart currently sees Vernon Davis as the starting tight end. Davis is entering his second season with the Redskins. He is followed by Niles Paul, Derek Carrier, Jeremy Sprinkle, Manasseh Garner and E.J. Bibbs at the position.

--As for a competitive running backs room, Chris Thompson – one of the top third-down running backs in the NFL in Gruden's eyes – is listed as the No. 2 running back. He is then followed by fourth-round pick Samaje Perine and then Matt Jones, who is trying to bounce back from a season in which he started the first seven games but was inactive for the final nine due to injuries and ball security struggles. Mack Brown and Kenny Hilliard round out the position group on the depth chart.

--The three starting wide receiver on this initial unofficial depth chart are Terrelle Pryor Sr., Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder as the Redskins seek to remain one of the top passing offenses in the NFL. Sixth-round pick Robert Davis is listed as the No. 3 wide receiver at Pryor's position just after Maurice Harris.

--Rookie Chase Roullier is the No. 2 center followed by Ronald Patrick. Roullier got some run with the first-team offense this week when Spencer Long was absent from one practice session due to illness.

Defense

--As the Redskins are still trying to figure out the right combination at inside linebacker, Mason Foster and Will Compton remain listed starters on the unofficial depth chart while Pro Bowler Zach Brown – a free agent addition this offseason – provides depth behind Foster. Rookie Josh Harvey-Clemons, who the team thinks will be able to fill the dime linebacker role, is third at that inside linebacker spot.

--It's easy to see why the team is excited about the pass rush situation with the outside linebackers. Ryan Kerrigan once again is listed as the starting weakside linebacker and Preston Smith as the starting strongside linebacker. Behind Kerrigan is the returning Junior Galette and then Smith is backed up by Trent Murphy and second-round pick Ryan Anderson.

--Rookies Fabian Moreau (pectoral) and Montae Nicholson (labrum) are listed on the depth chart at the backend of the cornerback and free safety spots, but the two have only been taking individual and special teams reps as they've been eased back into the fold following injuries. "I think they're making progress. You know, I think they're getting closer," Gruden said this week. "That's the trainer, the doctor – it's all on them when they clear them as far as full contact but they're doing everything. They're running and being involved in individual and walkthroughs and all that stuff, so they're getting the mental reps, which is good. Now, we just have to work them into the lineup somehow when they get cleared."

Special Teams

--Nothing has really changed for the specialists, as Tress Way, Dustin Hopkins and Nick Sundberg are the only players at their respective positions on the roster.

--Chris Thompson once again is listed as the No. 1 kick returner on the depth chart while Jamison Crowder is the primary punt returner following a breakout season. One interesting note is Bashaud Breeland being the No. 2 kick returner on this version of the unofficial depth chart. Breeland lines up deep during practices but hasn't returned a kick in his NFL career to date.