Redskins expected to sign Cullen Jenkins to bolster defensive line

By Anthony Gulizia - The Washington Times - Tuesday, September 13, 2016

After the Washington Redskins struggled in the trenches against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Monday night’s 38-16 loss, they sought help in the form of a somewhat familiar face.

The Redskins planned to sign veteran defensive end Cullen Jenkins, according to multiple reports. Washington signed the 35-year-old on Aug. 29 and he played in the team’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was cut on Sept. 3 when the 53-man roster was organized.

Coach Jay Gruden said on his conference call that Jenkins would be in Washington Tuesday night.

Now, the Redskins hope he can help a unit that struggled on Monday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked just one time and the defense did not sustain consistent pressure in the pocket. Perhaps more concerning was the Redskins’ inability to defend the rush, a familiar issue from last season. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, gashing the Redskins for 5.5 yards per carry.

Entering the season, the Redskins opted to keep just six defensive linemen in the rotation. They didn’t make any wholesale changes in the offseason, but added Kendall Reyes, Ziggy Hood and undrafted free agent Anthony Lanier to holdovers Chris Baker, Ricky Jean Francois and Kedric Golston. On Monday, Lanier was inactive.

Jenkins played his first seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, and then spent his next five with division rivals Philadelphia and the New York Giants.

In order to make room for Jenkins, the Redskins would have to clear a spot on the 53-man roster. The team decided to cut second-year center Austin Reiter on Tuesday and signed him to the practice squad, where he spent the entire 2015 season. Offensive guard Nila Kasitati was released from the practice squad.

The Redskins kept Reiter on the 53-man roster this season to add depth to the center position behind Kory Lichtensteiger and Spencer Long, who learned the position in the offseason after starting at left guard in place of Shawn Lauvao last year.