NFL Update: Washington Returns to Practice, Rudolph’s Reaction to QB3 Role

The NFL’s regular season kicks off this Thursday and after a weekend of cuts and finalize depth charts, we have a pretty good idea where several former Pokes sit heading into Week 1.

Mason Rudolph settling in at QB3

Earlier this week it was announced that rookie Mason Rudolph would be taking No. 3 reps behind Ben Roethlisberger and second-year pro Josh Dobbs. Gone is Landry Jones and any the risk of losing any future Bedlam wagers for Rudolph in the Pittsburgh QB room.

As far as his new role as No. 3 in concerned, it’s been a bit of an adjustment for someone used to enjoying starter’s reps the last four years.

Mason Rudolph mentioned how he was sort of taken aback by how few reps he got in practice (his 1st in an NFL reg season).

Which is why keeping 4 QBs wasn't going to happen – hard enough getting 3 guys practice reps.

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 3, 2018

With Dobbs taking over Jones’ No. 2 spot, expect any upcoming Rudolph news to be rare and/or random until and unless injury plays a factor. Remember, Big Ben, now 36, isn’t getting any younger.

Washington returns to practice

The Steelers played it safe with their second-round draft pick who left the third preseason game in what was termed a “precautionary” measure for an abdominal injury. Washington sat out of Pittsburgh’s preseason finale a week later but is apparently now healthy enough to join his teammates on the practice field.

Coach Mike Tomlin said he expects all members of his team who have been injured to be at least partial participants this week, including Vance McDonald, TJ Watt, James Washington, Mike Hilton and Xavier Grimble.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) September 4, 2018

TribLive reported that Washington and others mentioned did participate in Monday’s practice. Listed as JuJu Smith-Schuster’s backup on the depth chart, Washington is likely the Steelers’ No. 3 option at receiver.

Tyler Patmon Finding a home in Jacksonville

The former Cowboy DB has been somewhat of a journeyman over his five-year career with stops in Dallas, Miami, and Dallas (again) before coming to Jacksonville last season. The Jaguars valued the veteran corner’s experience, playing him in place of Jalen Ramsey when the Pro Bowler missed a week of the preseason due to suspension.

Patmon performed well in the preseason and appears to be the first corner off of the bench for Week 1 for last year’s top-ranked passing defense.

Love this play, effective blitzes by Jalen and Telvin with a great pass break up by Tyler Patmon on the outside. pic.twitter.com/045BqocsmL

— Another Jags Podcast (@AnotherJagsPod) August 28, 2018

Jaguars highest rated defensive players in preseason (min. 50 snaps)

Sealver Siliga

Malik Jackson

Larentee McCray

DJ Hayden

Tyler Patmon

— Another Jags Podcast (@AnotherJagsPod) September 3, 2018

Pipkins Cut by Colts

Despite surviving the initial roster cuts on Saturday, Lenzy Pipkins’ time in Indianapolis was short-lived.

One week after being traded by the Green Bay Packers for linebacker Antonio Morrison, the Indianapolis Colts have cut former OSU cornerback Lenzy Pipkins. If Pipkins clears waivers, he will be an unrestricted free agent.

Roster Cuts affect 10 Former Pokes

On Saturday, NFL teams carved down their rosters to the league mandated 53 names and several former Cowboys found themselves on the wrong side of things.

The least surprising of which were several undrafted rookies. Even the release of a pair of playmakers like Marcell Ateman and Chris Lacy wasn’t necessarily a shock. But one omitted was Dan Bailey; he was all of the sudden human as a kicker after missing his first time due to injury last year. Dallas went with an unproven 28-year-old

Depth Chart Tracker

Here’s a quick peak at these former Pokes as they’re projected according to their teams’ depth charts for Week 1.

Chris Carson (Seattle Seahawks) — RB1
Russell Okung (Los Angeles Chargers) — LT1
Emmanuel Ogbah (Cleveland Browns) — DE1
Brandon Weeden (Houston Texans) — QB2
James Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) — RWR2 (behind Juju Smith-Schuster)
Blake Jarwin (Dallas Cowboys) — TE2
Vincent Taylor (Miami Dolphins) — DT2
Tre Flowers (Seattle Seahawks) — RCB2
Tyler Patmon (Jacksonville Jaguars) — RCB2
Mason Rudolph (Pittsburgh Steelers) — QB3
Zachary Crabtree (Los Angeles Chargers) — IR