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Jay Gruden answered questions before the start of Day 6 of training camp practices this morning. He confirmed the signings of LT Donald Penn and G Hugh Thornton. He also confirmed that OL Tyler Catalina had been waived. The team also announced they were waiving center Casey Dunn with an injury designation.
Coach Gruden speaks to the media at #SkinsCamp. pic.twitter.com/7GB8ieHoGW
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) July 31, 2019
Donald Penn:
Jay Gruden to the podium for day 6:
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 31, 2019
Hugh Thornton is going to come in and compete at guard. Donald Penn has signed as well.
“It’ll take him about 30 minutes probably”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 31, 2019
Jay Gruden and Tim Rattay both have relationships with Donald Penn going back to Tampa Bay. Said (with a laugh) he didn't consult his brother in Oakland, because the Raiders are on Hard Knocks #HTTR
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 31, 2019
Penn and Gruden go back to their Tampa days. Penn actually played with QB coach Tim Rattay and WR coach Ike Hilliard for the Bucs.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 31, 2019
Penn also played for Jon Gruden last year, so the playbook will be very familiar. Jay says it'll take Penn 30 minutes to be ready.
Penn going from UDFA to Pro Bowler:
"That happens to a lot of guys. There’s a lot of guys that are undrafted that made it. Not many, but he’s one of them. I remember at Tampa Bay, we stole him off of Minnesota’s practice squad. He came in and played pretty well for us for quite a number of years. He’s just a guy who is solid in technique, he played a couple games last year and they tried to move him to right tackle, probably was not ready for that so much. [He’s] more of a left tackle I think. He is just a good, solid veteran to have.”
Hugh Thornton:
Day #6 Jay Gruden addresses the signing of Donald Penn and Hugh Thornton and release of Tyler Catalina. pic.twitter.com/XtYMAzQ71X
— The Fan Richmond (@910TheFan) July 31, 2019
Jay Gruden at the podium. He said Thornton had a really good workout, which is why he was signed. https://t.co/dOT0EUfVYG
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) July 31, 2019
Tyler Catalina:
Gruden confirms Tyler Catalina has been released: "I'm sure he'll be picked up somewhere else."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) July 31, 2019
Bryce Love:
Jay Gruden doesn't think about Bryce Love will be on the opening 53-man roster. The running back has been on NFI while he's recovering from an ACL tear.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) July 31, 2019
Jordan Brailford:
Injury updates:
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) July 31, 2019
Gruden anticipates Bryce Love starting the season on NFI, which would mean he misses at least the first six weeks.
Jordan Brailford should be back within the next week.
Adding a veteran OLB:
"Not right now. I feel really good about the outside backers, really. I think Ryan Anderson, [Ryan] Kerrigan, Montez Sweat, and Cassanova [McKinzy] – those four guys are doing a great job. Marcus Smith has had a good camp. He’s probably going to be down today he’s got a little bit of a groin, or a hamstring, one of the two. Obviously [Jordan] Brailford showed a lot of promise in OTA’s. I think it’s a solid group.”
Marcus Smith:
Marcus Smith expected to miss practice today. Hamstring/groin issue
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 31, 2019
Trey Quinn:
“Yeah, we’ll have to wait and see if someone else can emerge as a return guy, whether it’s [Jimmy] Moreland or we like [Greg] Stroman back there, he did some good things. So we have a couple other options we could look at. But, you know, at the end of the day, if he’s our best returner then he’ll be our return guy. If he’s our best inside slot player, he’ll be our inside slot player. We still have a long way to go before we announce any starters or anything like that, but he’s doing a fine job.”
Jon Bostic:
Gruden on LB Jon Bostic - “He’s been a great surprise for us.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 31, 2019
Calls him a great communicator
“It’s been great, it’s been great. Jon, I didn’t really know Jon from Adam, I didn’t really know a lot about him. But him coming in here and taking over as far as – he’s a great communicator, great communicator, knows the defense, you hear him calling out things pre-snap, loud, confidently knowing what to do, that goes a long way. Communication is one of the most important things you can have on defense other than talent. You’ve got to be able to communicate with all the things going on, with formation and personnel groups and he’s been a great surprise for us. Shaun Dion [Hamilton] is coming along on his second year, obviously Cole Holcomb, very, very smart player and instinctive so far, Josh Harvey-Clemons doing a good job, [Marquis] Flowers had a pick-six yesterday, he’s coming along, [B.J.] Blunt as a rookie getting his first reps, doing a good job. It really starts if you have a middle linebacker, that guy has to communicate the defense. He has to communicate the strong right, all the things he’s got to do, coverages, coverage changes if we have them, sometimes we’ll have multiple calls and depending on formation and what play we’re going in to and he’s got to communicate it. He’s been super so far.”
Ryan Kerrigan:
Gruden mentions Ryan Kerrigan is a “pro’s pro.” Says he plays with “great leverage, great hands, and stays out of harms way.”
— Ryan Fowler (@FowlerRyan1) July 31, 2019
“Well, when you talk about the definition of a professional athlete, Ryan Kerrigan will be at the top of your list. I mean, he’s in here pre-practice, getting ready for practice, post-practice, taking care of his body, meetings – practice he’s working hard. He’s always staying loose. He is just the ultimate pro. And, you know, there is good fortune, too, involved in that. He plays with great leverage, great hands, stays out of harm’s way pretty much. He’s just been fortunate and a great player and a great pro.”