Biggest Questions Facing Washington Redskins with Training Camp Underway

Health, wellness and contentment, of both the physical and mental varieties, are at the heart of the biggest questions facing the Washington Redskins now 2017's training camp is underway.

Specifically, the fitness of the Burgundy and Gold's best playmaker in the passing game poses more questions. In particular, tight end Jordan Reed's place on the PUP list puts even more glare from the spotlight on to a new-look group of wide receivers who have already caught the eye during the camp.

Speaking of injury issues, a dynamic edge-rusher the Redskins are counting on to generate more heat in the new season is off to a mixed start. Junior Galette finally has the chance to prove his worth at camp following two years lost to injury, an opportunity he must seize with both hands.

The issues won't be physical for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Instead, Washington's man under center will need his mind right after again failing to agree a new longterm deal with the team and settling for a second franchise tag in a row.

How Cousins handles another contract year will have a big say in proving the pre-season prognosticators, many of whom are predicting doom for the Redskins, right or wrong.

Read on for a full breakdown of the biggest questions looming in front of Washington now camp is up and running.

Will Jordan Reed Stay Healthy?

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Maybe the title for this slide should read "Can Jordan Reed Stay Healthy?" History would offer a depressingly negative answer.

After all, No. 86 has yet to complete a full 16-game season since entering the pros as a third-round pick in 2013. It's why it's so disappointing Reed finds himself on the PUP list to open camp, per Stephen Czarda of the team's official website.

There are two ways to interpret this status. One would be to commend the Redskins for taking a cautious approach and wrapping their most explosive pass-catcher in cotton wool.

Reed won't practice while under this designation, protecting him from the follies and misfortune often guilty of wrecking seasons before they start at this time of year.

However, for those whose glasses are always half empty, Reed being on the PUP list serves as one more sobering reminder of how brittle Washington's best offensive weapon is.

Reed has never made more than eight starts in a season. His ability to stay healthy is always a worry considering the versatility, big plays and all-round assurance he offers Cousins in Washington's air attack.

If anything, Reed's value will only increase this season. He is now the undisputed top target for Cousins after 1,000-yard receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon found new homes during free agency.

Reed has already missed all of OTAs, per CSN MidAtlantic's Peter Hailey. So he's about as behind the curve as he could be at this point on the preparatory calendar.

It's a far from ideal situation given how important Reed is to the Redskins' chances of success in 2017.

If he stays healthy, Reed can set new standards and records for a tight end. Yet the chances he'll play enough to hit those heights appear increasingly remote.

Will Washington's Other Tight Ends Step Up If Reed Goes Down?

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One silver lining, however slight, to Reed's non-participation at camp is the chance it affords Washington's other tight ends to prove they are capable of stepping up in the main man's absence.

Of those other tight ends, Vernon Davis is the most obvious next man up. Even at 33, Davis is still a reliable weapon in the passing game, as well as an asset as a blocker for the run.

Yet just like Reed, health is a concern for the veteran. Head coach Jay Gruden recently revealed the signing of E.J. Bibbs was necessitated because Davis has "a little bit of a tweaked hamstring," per Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com.

Aside from Davis, the other main contenders to be Reed-lite are Niles Paul, Derek Carrier and rookie Jeremy Sprinkle. All three are competent receivers, while Carrier has shown some chops when called upon to block.

The question for Paul and Carrier is can they stay healthy? Paul has seen his last two seasons ruined by ankle and shoulder injuries, while a knee problem wiped out the 2016 campaign for Carrier.

The path seems clear for Sprinkle to seize his chance. However, this year's fifth-round pick faces mental challenges of his own, according to Tandler: "During offseason practices, fifth-round rookie Jeremy Sprinkle looked like he had a lot to learn as he goes from a run-based offense at Arkansas to the Redskins’ sophisticated pass-first scheme."

More than just adapting to new terminology and different X's and O's, 6'5", 252-pounder Sprinkle needs to prove he can offer production to match his physical gifts.

Draft analyst Lance Zierlein of the league's official website spelled out those gifts: "True 'Y' tight end with outstanding length and a frame that can handle more weight. Has the toughness to be an NFL blocker, but might need to add more upper- and lower-body strength before he's ready. He's a big, reliable target in the red zone and underneath against zone, but needs a longer runway to create separation in his routes."

It's an intriguing and exciting description, but one Sprinkle must merit at the pro level. If he can, the Redskins will have unearthed another true playmaker at the position, one who may offset any further injury woes experienced by Reed.

Ultimately, those making up the depth at this position will be judged on their ability to compensate for Reed's absence from the offense.

The numbers are there, but no one member of this group can replace Reed. It will take steady contributions from at least two.

Will the New-Look Group of Wide Receivers Deliver?

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Terrelle Pryor Sr. was signed from the Cleveland Browns and asked to prove his 1,000-yard debut as an NFL wide receiver was no fluke. Jamison Crowder has been promoted to a bigger role, while Josh Doctson is being given another chance to prove he merited the status of being Washington's first-round pick in 2016.

It's been all change at wide receiver for the Redskins this offseason as new and familiar faces have been tasked with replacing Garcon and Jackson. Fortunately, camp has already provided positive answers about this group's ability to deliver.

Both Crowder and Pryor have caught the eye at Bon Secours, per ESPN.com's John Keim. Specifically, Keim has endorsed the variety this unlikely double act can bring to Washington's passing game in 2017.

Focusing on Pryor, Keim noted how his size and speed can not only stretch the field, but also create plays underneath: "Because he's fast, corners have to honor the possibility of a deep ball. And that leaves Pryor in good position to run comebacks and hitches. That's been evident a handful of times during the first two days of practice."

There is no doubt Pryor's 6'4" and 223-pound frame is something the Redskins haven't had at this position in quite a while. Cousins now has a physical mismatch to aim for, one whose size won't demand every pass is pinpoint. Cousins can simply put the ball up and trust Pryor to go and get it.

When he wants a quicker, surer throw, Cousins will likely look the way of slot-specialist Crowder. The diminutive wideout has been showing off his sudden quicks and suave route-running skills at camp, per Keim: "Crowder's shiftiness is more dangerous than his straight-line speed. It also enables him to sell routes better. In one drill Friday, Crowder started on what appeared to be a crossing route, only to pivot back to the outside. It drew the attention of offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh."

Crowder is going to be a menace this season. He's the slippery underneath weapon Cousins can trust to be open almost every play.

The ace in the deck could be Doctson, who played in only two games as a rookie as an Achilles injury prevented him from showing what he could do.

Fortunately, the former TCU ace has been making a more positive impression at this year's camp, according to CSN MidAtlantic's JP Finlay: "He showed his precise blend of size and athleticism and repeatedly beat Bashaud Breeland on a variety of routes. The Doctson that showed up on Thursday is the Doctson the Redskins drafted in the first round last season, the same guy that dominated at TCU two seasons ago."

Naturally, it's too soon to know for sure if the Doctson, Pryor and Crowder trio will make sure the Redskins don't miss Jackson and Garcon. Yet all three are at least making the most of their early auditions.

Can Junior Galette Finally Deliver?

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

It's been a tough time for Galette with the Redskins. He has sat out two years with injury and has yet to play a snap in a meaningful game for the Burgundy and Gold.

While it's easy to be sympathetic, football is a ruthless business. The Redskins need to know if Galette can still do what they originally hired him to do, namely get to the quarterback.

His showings at his year's camp haven't provided a definitive answer either way. He struggled somewhat on the first day, according to ESPN.com's Keim, who was waiting to see the explosion off the edge Galette once made his trademark.

Fortunately, the 29-year-old soon delivered some of the burst Keim wanted to see: "During one-on-one drills Saturday, he wasn't overmatched at all against left tackle Trent Williams. He made Williams work. Galette did get Morgan Moses on one rush. And Galette showed what he could do on a stunt, working well with Preston Smith and ducking inside past Shawn Lauvao."

Putting Williams, one of the league's best left tackles, through his paces is no mean feat. Yet Galette still has a way to go before Washington can be assured he is ready to return to the double-digit sacks form he produced for the New Orleans Saints.

Keim preached caution, a sentiment he also noted was echoed by head coach Gruden. It's the obvious way to proceed with a player who has been on the shelf for so long.

Eventually though, Galette will need to show coaches he can be the consistent game-wrecker off the edge Washington's defense needs.

Galette will be in trouble if he can't deliver considering the depth of talent the Redskins otherwise boast at his position. The team's second-round pick, Ryan Anderson, has joined Trent Murphy, Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith to boost the options at outside linebacker.

Smith struggled during his second season, logging just 4.5 sacks. Yet as Mike Jones of the Washington Post noted, he is still being worked off the edges in camp.

If Galette can't get up to speed, he'll be lost in the wash. However, if he turns the clock back, Galette will ensure the Redskins boast a versatile and fearsome pass-rush rotation in the new season.

Can the Redskins Find the Right Solution at Nose Tackle?

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This has been a burning question for the Redskins ever since Mike Shanahan switched the defense to a base 3-4 front in 2010. Still, it's hard to remember a year when Washington had this many intriguing options to play nose tackle.

There are exciting free-agent arrivals, in the shape of Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee. There are also interesting holdovers such as Ziggy Hood and Phil Taylor.

Yet despite the more established names vying to play over center, the Redskins' most obvious solution may come from one of the more unheralded members of the roster. Former Atlanta Falcon Joey Mbu has been taking his chances and making a mark at camp.

Mbu has gotten plenty of time as the starting nose tackle, according to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The player used some of the time to give Spencer Long, Washington's likely starting center, some problems, per Jones of the Washington Post.

A strong push is something the Redskins and new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky need to see consistently in 2017. It's the only the way a woeful run defense will improve.

Manusky is giving Mbu a long look, but Taylor, Hood, McClain and McGee are also in the mix. One interesting note on the latter comes from Phillips, who revealed how Gruden "said earlier this offseason he sees McGee as more of a defensive end."

McGee playing end is telling because Manusky has stressed size won't be a factor in determining who lines up at nose tackle, per Phillips: "We're not into fat guys. We're not looking for 380-pound noses. Just a good, strong guy in the middle that plays with his technique."

McClain should pay close attention to those words. The 302-pounder thrived as an undersized 0-technique with Dallas Cowboys and is, to my mind, the best nose tackle on Washington's roster.

Whether it's McClain, Mbu, Taylor or another, Manusky and the Redskins have to finally get it right at the most important position along the front seven.

Will Kirk Cousins Still Thrive Under Another Tag?

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Cousins had a point to prove after being adorned with the tag in 2016. He responded with a Pro Bowl season to follow the 2015 campaign, where he set numerous franchise records on his way to guiding Washington to the NFC East crown and a playoff berth.

Is Cousins still in prove-it mode? Or will he be content to simply see out his one-year deal with the minimum amount of risk and fuss before securing a lucrative move elsewhere next offseason?

It's the biggest and most troubling question facing the Redskins now.

The answer is no easy thing to find, not when Cousins could reasonably count on being a wanted man in 2018 free agency. For one thing, there is a distinct lack of quality passers entering the pros, let alone landing on the veteran market. Recent free-agent classes at quarterback have resembled more a fall calendar for the bargain bin.

Cousins would have the edge on most veteran signal-callers who test the market, not least because there are head coaches in the league who know exactly what he can do. Specifically, his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is in charge of the San Francisco 49ers, while Sean McVay, another ex-Cousins OC, is at the helm for the Los Angeles Rams.

Both could be looking for a new quarterback next year, putting Cousins in a strong position to simply mark time this season ahead of counting his money in 2018.

Yet there is still reason to believe Cousins will be spurred to once again deliver for the Redskins. Ironically, the many changes around him are likely to lift 2012's fourth-round pick out of any lethargy.

He is throwing to a changed group of wide receivers, while Matt Cavanaugh has taken over as offensive coordinator and Gruden will call the plays in place of McVay.

Cousins' experience as a third-year starter will help him adjust, according to Keim of ESPN.com. He pointed out how Gruden and his staff have seen Cousins' growing "comfort level with pass concepts and protections, his pre-snap reads, and more."

However, the biggest challenge won't be what he does in a football sense. It will be dealing with the mental challenges of another contract year.

The problem will call for a balance between caution and risk, per Jerry Brewer of the Washington Post. Cousins will strike such a balance if the Redskins are a more balanced team in 2017.

It means the revamped defense and refreshed running game must click right away. Then Washington's quarterback will have the framework he needs to continue ticking along as a productive NFL passer, tag or no tag.

Can the Redskins Defy the Critics?

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Given the talent on the roster, combined with the fact the Redskins are coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1996 and '97, it's surprising how many have predicted doom for this team in 2017.

The list of dire predictions has been relayed by Josh Luckenbaugh of the Washington Times: "Both USA Today and Sporting News are forecasting a basement-dwelling 5-11 season for Washington. Sports Illustrated is slightly more hopeful, at 6-10. Preseason power rankings reflect the low expectations: Business Insider has Washington 23rd, with 60-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. ProFootballTalk was even more down on the Redskins, placing them 25th."

According to Luckenbaugh, the main reason for the forecasts of misery concerns the offseason dismissal of Scot McCloughan as general manager.

It's time to clear this one up once and for all. McCloughan was not the laying on of hands many predicted he would be in Washington. He was not, and is not, a guarantee of a Super Bowl-winning roster.

It's not to say McCloughan isn't a talented GM and a keen evaluator of talent. Of course he is. But he also made mistakes. Do Ricky Jean Francois, Stephen Paea or Terrance Knighton ring any bells? How about overlooking a miserable D-line at the top end of the 2016 NFL draft to select Doctson?

Then there was McCloughan's beyond dubious stance on signing free agents over 30. Apparently, it doesn't work. Just don't tell Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, who have routinely plucked veterans nobody else wanted off the scrapheap to help win Super Bowls. David Harris, do I see a Vince Lombardi Trophy in your hands?

More than what McCloughan did and didn't do during his time at Redskins Park, there is a bigger picture. It's the one revealing many of the core players on this roster arrived before McCloughan did. Players such as Reed, Chris Thompson, Morgan Moses, Murphy and Bashaud Breeland.

The point is Washington doesn't just fold up the franchise because McCloughan is no longer in town. The Redskins will survive without him.

In fact, this team has enough talent on both sides of the ball to prove its doubters wrong in the post-McCloughan era, particularly if its biggest question marks build on their impressive early showings at camp.