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The 3-9 Washington Redskins, after pulling out a hard-fought win at home against the Detroit Lions in Week 12 wanted to carry that momentum into Week 13. Led by their young talent, the Redskins built off the success they had achieved in the previous game and beat the Carolina Panthers 29-21. This weekend, the Redskins go on the road to face a formidable opponent in the Green Bay Packers. Washington will need to continue its upward trend if the team wants to extend its winning streak to three games.
To follow are three players to watch in that endeavor Sunday at Lambeau Field:
1). TE Jeremy Sprinkle
This young tight end is viewed by many as a player with potential but he is also seen as an inconsistent blocker and pass catcher. This season, however, Sprinkle has improved in his run-blocking ability, accounting for only two of the Redskins 18 offensive holding penalties.
The Arkansas product has become more of a target as the season has progressed. Over the past three games, he has caught 19 of 29 targets (65.5 percent) and over the past three games, he has caught 55.5 percent of his targets. Statistically, it looks good but, the third-year pro needs to be more consistent in catching the ball in those “gotta have it” moments. With Sprinkle averaging 2.23 targets per game, every target is likely a pivotal one that he needs to make count.
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It will be interesting to see if offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell can make him more of a focal point in the play-action passing game.
2). LB Montez Sweat
Over the past four games, the rookie linebacker has begun to find his groove especially when it comes to rushing the passer. In fact, he has recorded three-and-a-half sacks during this time. When watching Sweat over this stretch, it is obvious that he is becoming more comfortable rushing the passer, using his size and length to get leverage.
In this week’s matchup against the Packers, the Mississippi standout should continue to progress as a consistently disruptive force. Against the Panthers, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky assisted his young linebacker several times by mixing up his location on the field. This left Sweat in favorable matchups.
So far this season, the Kentucky native has amassed 38 combined tackles (five tackles for a loss), nine quarterback hits, 11 quarterback hurries and five sacks.
3). WR Steven Sims Jr.
Sims Jr. has been a delight to watch on the field in any capacity as his dynamic speed and elusive abilities make him dangerous to opponents. He has made plays on special teams as well as when he has been used in specialized offensive plays. The Kansas product is more than just a gadget player, however. The 2019 undrafted wideout runs his routes with precision.
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Last week against the Panthers, on several occasions Sims caused the defender to fall leaving him wide open.
This Sunday, pay close attention to his quickness and sharp route-running skills. It will be fascinating to see if O’Connell dials up a few plays that take advantage of his skill set. Sims has an opportunity to be a significant part of this offense as a slot receiver.
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