ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Football Team opens the 2021 NFL regular season on Sept. 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers at FedEx Field. Washington finished the 2020 season 7-9, good for first place in the NFC East.
Washington has, finally, constructed a roster with more depth. It has taken a few years to reach this point, but it will cut players from multiple spots who appeal to other teams, which hasn't been the case in recent seasons. There aren't a lot of questions about starting jobs, but the most difficult spots to cut were defensive back and wide receiver, where the team added veterans Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries and drafted Dyami Brown.
The team also has more quality offensive linemen and the roster is better positioned, it hopes, to withstand injuries. That will be crucial in a 17-game season.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen
Nothing changed here from the projection before training camp, though if Washington really likes what it saw from Steven Montez, it could always keep him on the practice squad and cut Allen. But that seems unlikely. Montez remains a raw prospect and not yet ready if, because of injuries, he had to become the No. 2 quarterback. Fitzpatrick, of course, will start.
