2019 Training Camp Preview
July 24, 2019
by Steve Thomas
Our long national nightmare is over. I’m not talking about war in the middle east, economic depression, or the hazards of debating national politics (which, as an aside, is the bane of our existence). I mean that NFL football is back, in earnest, for the first time since the Patriots won their 452,498th Super Bowl a few months ago. We’ve officially made it through free agency, the draft, OTAs, minicamp, and the NFL’s vacation season to once again arrive on the doorstep of the new NFL season. The 2019 Redskins are something of an enigma, in that they’ve drafted their quarterback of the future, have a big-time running back coming back from an ACL injury that derailed his rookie year before it began, 2 new receivers, and a legitimate up and coming defense, but at the same time have garnered absolutely no respect whatsoever from the national media. We’ll all learn the true nature of this team beginning in just a few short weeks. In the meantime, though, let’s preview what you can expect in training camp.
Schedule
The current training camp schedule is below – please note that the schedule can and sometimes does change, so pay attention to updates and verify the times before you leave for Richmond. The team has the right to change the days and times of practice, so check with www.Redskins.com for the most current information.
Thursday, July 25 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Friday, July 26 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Saturday, July 27 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Sunday, July 28 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Tuesday, July 30 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Wednesday, July 31 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Thursday, Aug. 1 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Saturday, Aug. 3 * 1:00 p.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 4 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Monday, Aug. 5 9:45 a.m. Practice / 4:40 p.m. Walkthrough
Tuesday, Aug. 6 1:35 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 10 1:35 p.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 11 1:35 p.m. Practice
* = Fan appreciation day
Note that like last year, the padded practices are in the morning and the walkthroughs are in the afternoon, so plan accordingly.
This is important: YOU MUST HAVE PASSES TO ATTEND. They are free. Don’t be “that guy” who travels all the way to Richmond without a pass. Click here to get your passes.
This year, the Redskins have a multitude of different “theme days” during camp:
July 27 Military Appreciation Day Presented by GEICO Military
Aug. 3 Fan Appreciation Day
Aug. 6 Kids Day
Aug. 10 Youth Football Day & Gatorade Junior Training Camp
Aug. 14 Youth Football Day
If you’re interested in any of those, plan accordingly. There will also be a number of offsite events for fans, including:
July 23 River City Golf Classic at Magnolia Green Golf Club (you’ve already missed this)
July 25 Redskins Training Camp Kickoff at The Veil Brewing Company
July 30 Celebration in the End Zone 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
You can find more information about all of these events by clicking here.
Except as noted, we don’t yet have any additional information on the offsite events, so keep an eye out for more details.
The preseason game schedule:
Game 1: Thurs, Aug 8, 7:30 pm ET: Redskins at Browns
Game 2: Thurs, Aug 15, 7:30 pm ET: Redskins at Bengals
Game 3: Thurs, Aug 22, 7:30 pm ET: Redskins at Falcons
Game 4: Thurs, Aug 29, 7:30 pm ET: Ravens at Redskins
If you want to study the team roster, click here.
If you want salary cap information, click here.
Training Camp storylines
Some things to watch for in training camp include:
The magically disappearing left tackle There’s no question on this team heading into training camp that’s bigger than whether 7x Pro Bowler Trent Williams gets over whatever’s ailing him and reports to camp. There’s no getting around the fact that if Williams for whatever reason decides to sit out regular season games, the team is in a world of hurt. You don’t just replace a player like Williams with someone from the bottom of the depth chart or the street. The Redskins desperately need him in uniform on week 1 and beyond.
Quarterback competition Without a doubt, the next biggest issue heading is the quarterback depth chart. Head coach Jay Gruden has given no indication whether prized rookie Dwayne Haskins, long time stalwart Colt McCoy, or incoming veteran Case Keenum will begin the season as the starter. There’s no doubt Haskins will get the starting job at some point; it’s only a matter of when.
The health of Derrius Guice For a team like the Redskins, a strong running game is essential, and Guice was brought here last season to be a cornerstone of the offense for years to come. The team wants him to be part of an elite triumvirate: Haskins, Guice, and an as of yet to be determined receiver. Last we heard, Guice had recently also suffered a hamstring injury, so his health will be one of the biggest questions of training camp. Adrian Peterson may be a hall of famer, but he can’t last forever (can he?).
Inside linebacker depth chart This week’s unexpected release of 2018 starter Mason Foster and the season-ending injury to Reuben Foster really puts stress on this position group. The Redskins were clearly counting on Reuben to play a major role on the defense, and without him, the coaching staff needs to find an adequate replacement from those left on the roster. It seems very likely that Shaun Dion Hamilton will start at one spot or the other; which one is another matter. It may be Jonathan Bostic‘s time to shine.
The wide receiver group This depth chart is as wide open as its been in years. With 2016 first round pick Josh Doctson seemingly no longer guaranteed a spot at the top of the depth chart, the only true lock is Paul Richardson Jr. and his $40M contract. Jay Gruden’s son, second year player and injury returnee Trey Quinn has a leg up on the slot role, but beyond that the competition up and down the depth chart is wide open. This will be entertaining and you should pay close attention to these battles.
Richmond Information
If you want further information on what to do in Richmond during your visit, you can listen to our interview with Ms. Anedra Bourne, Tourism Coordinator from the City of Richmond (click here) from June, 2016. Other links and information:
RICHMOND INFORMATION LINKS: www.visitrichmond.com; www.visitrichmondva.com
RICHMOND TRAVEL PACKAGES: You can buy a travel package for your trip to Richmond. Click here for more information.
CITY OF RICHMOND’S BON SECOURS TRAINING CAMP WEBSITE: Click here for all of the Richmond-related information you may need.
PARKING: The City of Richmond has helpfully provided all of the parking information you will need, including a map: click here.
DIRECTIONS: Directions to the Bon Secours Training Center, provided by the City of Richmond: click here. The City of Richmond’s Transit System (click here) is the City’s public transit system in and around the area, and it will be available for those who want to utilize their services.