RICHMOND, Va. -- The Washington Redskins received good news regarding rookie draft picks Fabian Moreau and Montae Nicholson: Neither one will need to open training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Redskins coach Jay Gruden said both players will be limited early in training camp, but that’s still better than what was anticipated a few months ago. Gruden said there’s a chance more players could join safety DeAngelo Hall and linebacker Houston Bates on the PUP list, though. Linebacker Martrell Spaight (shoulder) could be one of them.
Moreau, a corner picked in the third round, suffered a torn pectoral muscle earlier this year and wasn’t expected to return until mid-August. That was a similar timetable for Nicholson, a safety picked in the fourth round, who underwent surgery in March to repair a torn labrum.
Both players are behind, having missed the spring workouts, but neither likely would be needed to play immediately so they can take their time recovering. At corner, the Redskins already have starters Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland while second-year Kendall Fuller worked in the slot during the spring. They also have Quinton Dunbar, fellow rookie Josh Holsey and Dashaun Phillips there as well. Moreau can play in the slot or on the outside; the Redskins felt he would have been drafted a round or two higher had he not been injured.
At safety, the Redskins have Su'a Cravens and D.J. Swearinger in addition to veterans Will Blackmon and Deshazor Everett. The Redskins gave Hall a paycut in June, but still want to see what he has left. They have often mentioned missing his leadership last season when he was out for the final 13 games with a torn ACL.
