ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -The Washington Redskins signed receiver Reche Caldwell on Tuesday and placed right tackle Jon Jansen on injured reserve.
Coach Joe Gibbs also announced that Todd Wade will start at right tackle in place of Jansen, whose season ended when he broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle in Sunday’s 16-13 overtime win over Miami.
Caldwell was the leading receiver for the New England Patriots last season with 61 receptions for 760 yards and four touchdowns, but he also had two key drops in the loss to Indianapolis in the AFC Championship game.
Caldwell was deemed expendable after the Patriots acquired Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker and was cut at the end of preseason. The 28-year-old receiver has 137 catches for 1,710 yards and 11 touchdowns over four seasons with San Diego and one with New England.
Caldwell gives the Redskins another option at receiver following the latest disappointing performance from Brandon Lloyd. The Redskins demoted Lloyd late last season and promoted Antwaan Randle El to the starting lineup opposite Santana Moss. Randle El had a career day in Sunday with 162 yards receiving, while Lloyd did not have a reception.
Caldwell’s arrival gives the Redskins six receivers, an usually high number for an NFL roster. He joins Moss, Randle El, Lloyd, special teams standout James Thrash and recently acquired Shaun Bodiford.
To replace Jansen at right tackle, Gibbs chose veteran Wade, who is recovering from a torn labrum, over rookie free agent Stephon Heyer.
Heyer replaced Jansen during Sunday’s game because Wade was inactive. Heyer will now work as the primary backup to Wade and left tackle Chris Samuels.
“We’ve talked that over and we’ll put Todd in, and we’ll let Stephon go back and forth between both tackles,” Gibbs said on his weekly radio show at Redskins Park.
Gibbs also attempted to clarify comments he had made about cornerback Shawn Springs, who was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game. On Monday, Gibbs said Springs had not been 100 percent because of an unspecified injury. On Tuesday, the coach said he was concerned about Springs’ hamstring.
“We watch him very closely,” Gibbs said. “Last week, early in the week, he had his hamstring wrapped.”
Springs was not listed on the injury report last week. He told reporters Monday he was fine physically and expected to remain the backup this season.
The Redskins also waived running back Marcus Mason. In addition, offensive lineman Justin Geisinger was signed to the practice squad, and receiver Burl Toler was cut from the practice squad.
Add A Comment