The Redskins released 12 players on Monday, officially reaching the 75-player roster limit, the team announced. The NFL deadline for reaching the limit was Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
The 12 players released were:
- OL Jon Alston
- QB Casey Bramlet
- DB Antuan Edwards
- TE Robert Johnson
- OL Jim Jones
- K Tyler Jones
- P David Lonie
- DL Chris Mineo
- TE Calen Powell
- DL Karon Riley
- LB Kevin Simon
- DB Aric Williams
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list was tight end Robert Johnson, the 6-6, 278-pounder who joined the team in 2005. Johnson had shown flashes of potential in off-season work, and he made several nice catches during the Aug. 6 scrimmage against the Ravens.
Johnson suffered an ankle injury in the Week 2 preseason game against the Jets and did not play against the New England Patriots last Saturday night.
Another player released was seventh-round draft pick Kevin Simon, a 5-11, 234-pound linebacker who never was able to get on the field in preseason. During training camp, Simon suffered a stomach injury and he fell behind other young linebackers Rocky McIntosh, a second-round draft pick, and Spencer Havner, an undrafted rookie.
The decision to release kicker Tyler Jones and punter David Lonie leaves the Redskins with John Hall and Derrick Frost as the team's kicking tandem.
Coaches have expressed confidence in Hall, who is coming off of two injury-plagued seasons. But Frost has been inconsistent this preseason and it's possible that the team could bring in another punter for evaluation before the regular season begins.
"Derrick needs to be more consistent--he knows that," Gibbs said. "We need to work hard on that. Up to this point, we have been alternating [Frost and Lonie]. I think we need to do a good job of analyzing that situation. Certainly we need a smoother performance and more consistent performance there."
The Redskins also released veteran safety Antuan Edwards, who was signed by the team on Aug. 16, and defensive end Karon Riley, who had two sacks in the Redskins' first preseason game.
Perhaps just as notable as the cuts are those young players who have earned a roster spot for at least one more week.
Young wide receivers Mike Espy, Steven Harris and Richard Smith are still on the roster, as is promising tight end Buck Ortega. Offensive linemen Jasper Harvey and Chris Pino and defensive linemen Vaka Manupuna and Joe Sykes remain.
Cornerbacks Dimitri Patterson, Christian Morton and John Eubanks have made it through the first round of cuts. Despite being hampered by a hamstring injury most of preseason, safety Curry Burns has also survived.
The Redskins will have to release about 22 players on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m. ET.
