Just a week ago Washington Redskins tight ends Niles Paul, Logan Paulsen and Jordan Reed were all saying how great they felt and how the added bulk they had put on during the offseason was aiding them fend off defensive lineman and linebackers. They were excited about the upcoming season and how they felt cohesiveness amongst themselves as a group to be reckoned with.
Fast forward a week later and the once promising position for the Redskins has now turned into a tragic story during training camp.
On Wednesday of last week I was told through a contact that Logan Paulsen would be out for the year and would have surgery for turf toe.
On Thursday the day of the team’s first preseason game against Cleveland, news of Paulsen’s impending surgery was a formality. The team felt good with Niles Paul as the starter in more base packages because of his blocking exploits and with Jordan Reed as the more traditional pass catching tight end. Youngsters Je’Ron Hamm, Chase Dixon and Devin Mahina were having very good camps so the situation did not look bleak.
All that would change on one play during the first quarter of the game as Niles Paul would have his ankle fractured and dislocated. An already bad situation would compound itself on a fluke injury to one of the team’s heart-and-soul players.
Saturday after practice here in Richmond, Head Coach Jay Gruden confirmed what was known… that Paulsen would indeed be having surgery on his toe and that he would be lost for the season. With Paul and Paulsen out for the season, the onus is now on the team to either continue the development of Dixon, Hamm and Mahina, or hit the free agency market and or waiver wire.
There could be a silver lining in that the one player who could soften the blow of the injuries to Paul and Paulsen is Reed.
For everything that Paul and Paulsen could do on the field, Reed has the potential to be an elite level player if he can stop the injuries that have derailed his progress. If he can play through them, maximize his abilities like Paul and be a consistent professional like Paulsen; Reed could become the player that most team personnel believe he can be. And if there ever was a time to be that player, this would be it.
A combination of a healthy Reed, Dixon and Hamm could perceivably get the job done.
The team would like to think so at this point, but it would be hard pressed to think that General Manager Scott McCloughan does not have his phone handy.
There are some tight ends out there on the market. Some to keep an eye on are Zach Miller who recently played with Seattle and has proven to be a reliable veteran. Miller, who is coming back from an injury, would be a player McCloughan has an understanding of from his days consulting for the Seahawks. Another possibility could be Wesley Saunders who has played for Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. D.J. Williams is a player who once had a high ceiling with the Green Bay Packers but has since bounced around with three different teams. He is a veteran however that could help the younger players. The last two players are former Redskins Fred Davis — who has not played a regular season game since the 2013 season; and Ted Bolser who was in the redskins training camp last year and would have a familiarity with Gruden’s system. But the latter is another young unproven player.
Look for the team to make a move before the second preseason game Thursday against Detroit at FedEx Field.