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Redskins Release First Unofficial Depth Chart Of Regular Season

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With less than a week before Week 1 in Philadelphia, the Washington Redskins released the first unofficial depth chart of the regular season on Tuesday.

Considerably smaller than the one released during training camp, the latest depth chart organizes the 53-man roster in a way that sheds light on how the Redskins will prepare for Week 1 in Philadelphia. Check out the entire depth chart, here.

The biggest takeaway from Tuesday's release is at running back, where a fully healthy Derrius Guice is now listed as the starter over veteran Adrian Peterson.

Head coach Jay Gruden foreshadowed the move after practice Monday when addressing the release of fellow rusher Samaje Perine. Gruden said the decision was less about Perine's performance and more about how much confidence the team has in Guice, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

"We drafted him for a reason," Gruden said of Guice, who was a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. "We feel like he can be a first-, second- and even a third-down back, if needed. I think the offense, carries wise, will probably go through him."

That's not to say Peterson and the versatile Chris Thompson will not be factors in the backfield. Peterson became the oldest 1,000-yard rusher in more than three decades last season, while Thompson is one of the most-explosive pass-catching threats in the NFL when healthy. Both players have been full participants during training camp and the preseason.

Behind the three-headed trio is waiver pickup Wendell Smallwood, who possesses similar skills to Thompson but will be used primarily on special teams to start the year.

"We feel good about the guys we kept," Gruden said.

ing training camp, the latest depth chart organizes the 53-man roster in a way that sheds light on how the Redskins will prepare for Week 1 in Philadelphia. Check out the entire depth chart, here.

The biggest takeaway from Tuesday's release is at running back, where a fully healthy Derrius Guice is now listed as the starter over veteran Adrian Peterson.

Head coach Jay Gruden foreshadowed the move after practice Monday when addressing the release of fellow rusher Samaje Perine. Gruden said the decision was less about Perine's performance and more about how much confidence the team has in Guice, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

"We drafted him for a reason," Gruden said of Guice, who was a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. "We feel like he can be a first-, second- and even a third-down back, if needed. I think the offense, carries wise, will probably go through him."

That's not to say Peterson and the versatile Chris Thompson will not be factors in the backfield. Peterson became the oldest 1,000-yard rusher in more than three decades last season, while Thompson is one of the most-explosive pass-catching threats in the NFL when healthy. Both players have been full participants during training camp and the preseason.

Behind the three-headed trio is waiver pickup Wendell Smallwood, who possesses similar skills to Thompson but will be used primarily on special teams to start the year.

"We feel good about the guys we kept," Gruden said.

Take a look at photos from Redskins practice on Monday Spetember 2, 2019 before they take on the Philadelphia Eagles

There was also plenty of shuffling at wide receiver, starting with the release of Josh Doctson. Third-round rookie is now listed as the starter alongside second-year wideout Trey Quinn and veteran speedster Paul Richardson. Their backups are a fully healthy Robert Davis, undrafted rookie Steven Sims Jr. and sixth-round rookie Kelvin Harmon, respectively.

"[Doctson] did some good things for us. We had high expectations for him," Gruden said Monday. "But I think the emergence of what we think [Kelvin] Harmon can be and Terry [McLaurin] can be and obviously Trey Quinn coming back and Paul Richardson with his speed. Then obviously [Steven] Sims [Jr.] and Rob Davis with is ability to play special teams was a big factor as well."

Here are some additional notes from the first unofficial depth chart of the 2019 campaign:

OFFENSE:

-- Unsurprisingly, Case Keenum is listed as the starting quarterback with rookie Dwayne Haskins and longtime Redskin Colt McCoy behind him. Gruden announced Keenum as the starter Aug. 25.

-- Donald Penn and Ereck Flowers are listed as the starters along the left side of the offensive line. Gruden announced the 36-year-old Penn as the starting left tackle Aug. 26 and said that Flowers was the starting left guard a few days later. Geron Christian will serve as the backup for both tackle spots, while rookie Wes Martin will do the same at guard.

DEFENSE:

-- The Redskins signed two players to the 53-man roster Monday: defensive lineman Treyvon Hester and middle linebacker Tanner Vallejo. Hester is listed as the back up for Matt Ioannidis, while Vallejo will play behind starter Shaun Dion Hamilton and Josh Harvey-Clemons.

-- Ryan Kerrigan and Ryan Anderson are listed as the starting outside linebackers, with Cassanova McKinzy and first-round rookie Montez Sweat behind them.

-- Seventh-round rookie Jimmy Moreland is listed as third string behind Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau. However, Moreland could see playing time in the slot in Week 1, especially if Moreau (ankle) cannot go.

SPECIAL TEAMS

-- Sims is listed as the starting kick returner, with Smallwood and corner Greg Stroman behind him.

-- Quinn, Sims and Stroman -- in that order -- are listed as the punt returners.

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