The Washington Redskins spent the offseason bolstering their defensive line depth. They added a little bit more Monday.
Washington signed veteran nose tackle Jerrell Powe, according to the NFL transactions report. Powe played in 16 games with Houston last season. The 6-foot-2, 331-pound Powe has played in 28 games with four career starts (three coming last season). He spent his first three years with Kansas City, appearing in 12 games with one start. The Chiefs picked him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
The Chiefs cut him on Sept. 1, 2013 only to resign him three months later. He was a third-string nose tackle in 2012.
It will be difficult for Powe to make the roster. Washington will start Terrance Knighton at nose tackle, but they also have Chris Baker, who can play end and nose; Kedric Golston, who can play both spots as well, as can Frank Kearse and Travian Robertson. Robert Thomas also can play nose tackle. All totaled, they have 11 defensive linemen on the roster. They likely will be in their nickel defense at least 70 percent of the time, lessening the need for more than one backup nose tackle.
The Redskins opted not to re-sign veteran nose tackle Chris Neild, who remains a free agent. He had two ACL surgeries in his first four years in the NFL.
The Redskins had 89 players listed on their roster before the Powe signing. Linebacker James Gayle had been placed on injured reserve.
