Ashburn, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have made roster moves that land the much-valued nose tackle Barry Cofield on injured reserve and that bring safety Akeem Davis back into the fold.
The Iron Man has been placed the designated-to-return Reserve/Injured list after he sustained a high ankle sprain in the season opener against the Houston Texans. The team brought back safety Akeem Davis to the active roster. Also, cornerback Richard Crawford and wide out Nick Williams were released from the practice squad.
Tight end Je’Ron Hamm was signed to the practice squad as well as defensive lineman Derrick Hopkins and receiver Marvin McNutt.
The loss of Cofield is going to be big. Chris Neild was the only other true nose tackle on the team and he is already on injured reserve. Defensive lineman Chris Baker, according to head coach Jay Gruden, can fill in for the former New York Giant for the eight weeks Cofield might be out.
Davis actually showed some flashes during training camp and some had him on the final 53-man roster — which he was for a short time. But with signing of new teammate safety Duke Ihenacho, Davis was moved to the practice squad. Now with teammate and safety Bacarri Rambo indicating he needs to continue to develop, Brandon Meriweather having been suspended and Ihenacho still so new to defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s system, it’s no surprise that Davis was brought back.
Hamm, a rookie, comes from the New Orleans Saints. The tight end out of the University Louisiana-Monroe was an undrafted college free agent that played wide receiver for the Warhawks. The Saints converted him into a tight end, in part, because of his 6’3”, 236 lbs. stature.
Defensive lineman Derrick Hopkins, another undrafted college free agent was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason and hails from Virginia Tech. A bit undersized (6’0” and 306 lbs.) for a member of a defensive front line, it could be assumed that he was signed to the practice squad as a precaution with Cofield being on the IR. Some say he could play nose tackle because of his skills.
Wide out Marvin McNutt was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was there for a year on the practice squad and then released after the season to be picked up by the Miami Dolphins for the 2012-2013 off-season. He signed with the Carolina Panthers shortly after his release from the Dolphins in August of 2013. He stayed in Carolina for the 2013 season and was released by the team this past August.
Hail.