Redskins make roster moves: FA signings, IR additions

The Washington Redskins have placed guard Jonathan Cooper, cornerback Quinton Dunbar and wideout Trey Quinn on their Reserve/Injured list. As well, they have signed quarterback Josh Johnson, center Demetrius Rhaney, guard Zac Kerin and defensive end Marcus Smith II to the active roster.

Cooper suffered a torn bicep in the first quarter of the Monday Night Football loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Dunbar had been dealing with a strange nerve injury in his leg that would not heal. He tried to play in the Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys but it was clear early on he wasn’t yet right. This is the second time Quinn will be on injured reserve this year for a recurring ankle injury. He was just activated from the list last month.

Johnson was one of several signal-callers worked out by the team earlier in the season after former starting QB Alex Smith broke his leg. At that time however, QB Mark Sanchez got the nod to back up Colt McCoy (who was replacing Smith). With McCoy joining Smith now on IR with his own broken leg (suffered early in the Eagles game), Sanchez will start in his place and Johnson was brought in to back up Sanchez.

Rhaney was a seventh-round (250th overall) draft pick of the (then) St. Louis Rams in 2014. He spent some time with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 and was signed by Washington late that year, in November.  After this past training camp, he was cut (Sept. 1). The Tennessee State alum played in 16 games for the Rams in 2015 and 2016.

Kerin entered the league in 2014 when he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted college free agent.  He stayed in Minnesota until 2017 when he was waived and claimed by the Detroit Lions. In September, he was placed on IR with a knee injury. This past summer (July,) Kerin signed with the New York Giants, was released in September and then signed with the Atlanta Falcons later in the month. The Falcons released him this past October.

Smith was a first round draft pick (No. 26 overall) of the Eagles in 2014. He rotated on and off the line through 2017 (he was waived in July that year) and signed with the Seattle Seahawks a few days later. In October of that season, Seattle Pro Bowl DE Cliff Avril suffered a neck injury and Smith began starting in the defensive line rotation. It is said that he had the best game of his career that day, against the Indianapolis Colts, recording 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. While he resigned with the Seahawks this past March, they released him in August.