The Washington Redskins released their Week 1 depth chart Monday, which showed Josh Morgan ascending to the starting wide receiver position opposite Pierre Garcon after he was listed as a backup for all of the preseason.
The Redskins signed both Garcon and Morgan within the first hour of the free agency period in March. Garcon has been entrenched as a starter since offseason practices began. Morgan spent part of the offseason recovering from the leg injury that ended his 2011 season. Even once fully healthy, he rotated in and out with Leonard Hankerson at the Z-receiver spot.
Hankerson was announced as the starter at that position for the first three preseason games, but Morgan started there for last Wednesday’s preseason finale. In four outings, Morgan recorded nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
The weekly depth charts don’t necessarily mean a player is a lock to start. But Morgan has received significant time with the first team offense.
At running back, Evan Royster is listed first with Roy Helu Jr. second, followed by rookie Alfred Morris. Royster said he didn’t know if he would start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, however. Morris said the same.
“I think they’re going to keep us pretty much in the dark until probably the day before the game,” Royster said.
The rest of the depth chart went pretty much according to form: Trent Williams at left tackle, Will Montgomery at center, Chris Chester at right guard and Tyler Polumbus at right tackle. Kory Lichtensteiger is listed as the first-team left guard despite missing all of the preseason while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. But he said Monday that he plans to play Sunday.
At tight end, Fred Davis is listed as the starter, and Niles Paul is No. 2, followed by Logan Paulsen.
Rex Grossman is the second-string quarterback behind Robert Griffin III and ahead of rookie Kirk Cousins.
The first-team defense revealed no new wrinkles. The entire front seven — left end Adam Carriker, nose tackle Barry Cofield, right end Stephen Bowen, left outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, inside linebacker London Fletcher, inside linebacker Perry Riley, right outside linebacker Brian Orakpo – returns from last season. Cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson remain the starters at those positions, with Cedric Griffin listed as Hall’s backup and rookie Richard Crawford as Wilson’s backup. Brandon Meriweather is the first-team strong safety alongside free safety Madieu Williams. Reed Doughty will back up Meriweather and Gomes will back up Williams.
On special teams, Brandon Banks is listed as the kick and punt returner with Paul listed as his backup on kickoffs and Santana Moss the backup on punts.
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