NFL

"With the extra added reps that he's getting," said Mike Shanahan, "you can see the progression in his game." It's a reminder that Cousins could inherit some fantasy value if Griffin encounters a setback or gets injured again. Cousins saw action in three games as a rookie, starting one. He completed 33-of-48 passes (68.8 percent) for 466 yards (9.7 YPA) and a 4:3 TD-to-INT ratio.

He's doing rehab work on the side. Helu is in danger of losing his roster spot just two years after being a fourth-round pick. As a rookie, he rushed for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games late in the season. Ever since, Helu has been unable to say healthy, and Alfred Morris has seized the starting job.

Carriker suffered the injury in Week 2, then encountered an offseason setback. His status for training camp is uncertain. With Stephen Bowen entrenched as the Redskins' right end, Jarvis Jenkins has the early leg up to start on the left side. Carriker figures to be the swing end if he's healthy for Week 1.

"I'm still playing at a high level, the team still wanted me to play," he said. "So, a lot of those things come into play." Despite Fletcher's assertion, his play has slipped in recent seasons. The Skins seem to value his leadership above all else. There's a good chance 2013 will be the 38-year-old's final season.

Undersized at 6-foot-2, 236 pounds, Reed is a blocking-deficient pass catcher. That's why his 4.72 40-yard dash underwhelmed at the Combine. Alas, Reed adds a real receiving threat to a team with in-flux receiver and tight end corps, and has drawn looses comparisons to Aaron Hernandez. If Reed shows well as a rookie, the Redskins could decide to let Fred Davis walk next offseason.

There was a reason White fell out of the league so swiftly despite being a 2009 second-rounder. In theory, he fits Washington's offense as a read-option dynamo, but White's limitations as a passer are great. He's also undersized. White likely won't make it past first cuts in Redskins camp.

It's a cruel reminder of how limited RGIII was even before his knee finally gave out on FedEx Field's embarrassing turf. As reported Thursday, Griffin expects to start "explosive sprinting" in just a matter of weeks. It's not fair to compare RGIII's recovery to Adrian Peterson's, but thus far it's mirroring it.