RICHMOND—Here is what you need to know on Wednesday, August 8, one day before the Washington Redskins open up their preseason at New England.

Talking points

—Yesterday the talk here was about Trent Williams’ slow-go injury recovery program. Jordan Reed is on a similar program. He has looked good in limited action during practice. The former Pro Bowl tight end can move as well as ever after having a bone removed from each of his big toes and he has been getting regular doses of reps in 11 on 11 drills. He said recently that he needs to work on endurance as he wasn’t able to run until about a month before training camp started. Reed should be ready for the start of the season and we’ll see how it goes from there.

—One player I’m looking forward to watching on Thursday is rookie offensive tackle Geron Christian. He should start at left tackle with Williams out and he likely will play the first half, maybe longer. Christian has been able to hold his own in practice against Preston Smith often, but he still lacks the strength to get the job done consistently.

—I’ve been asked about rookie nose tackle Tim Settle a few times and I’m still trying to form an opinion. He is crazy athletic, and he has his moments. Sometimes he leans back in his stance and he can’t use his 330 pounds to disrupt the middle. During goal-line work on Sunday, the offense was at the three. Jay Gruden yelled, “This one’s coming right at you, Settle! Right over you!” Indeed the play went there, and the runner got into the end zone. In short, he’s a rookie with a lot to learn.

—Pay no attention to the depth chart that has Derrius Guice listed as the fourth-string running back. I’m about 95 percent sure that Guice will be on the field for the first offensive snap against the Cardinals on September 9 and I am 100 percent sure he will lead the team in rushing most games. The depth chart is unofficial, and when they decide they have to put a rookie who is going to start with the fourth string, it lacks credibility.

Oppo research

The Cardinals, the Redskins’ Week 1 opponent, put starting center A.Q. Shipley on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Shipley has been a mainstay on the Arizona line since winning the job in 2016, missing only four snaps.

On the record

Mason Foster on the best part of the first preseason game: "I’m just looking to see them be physical, you know what I mean. They’ve been flying around all camp. I can’t wait to see 'em go hit somebody else. You know [how] it gets—people get tired of hitting the same guys over and over. So, it’s going to be exciting, man."

Comment: The first preseason game is really about the younger players who get to take over after some of the starters go for a series, maybe two. Sure, it doesn’t count, but it’s Gillette Stadium and Bill Belichick will be on the other sideline. It will be a good moment for the players who are trying to live out their dreams.

The agenda

Today: Off day, travel to New England

Upcoming: Preseason opener Redskins @ Patriots (Aug. 9) 1 day; Final cut (Sept. 1) 24 days; Season opener @ Cardinals (Sept. 9) 32 days

Trending on social

Something different happened OFF the field today at training camp.



Now, here's what happened on it: https://t.co/WdtWIWlguM pic.twitter.com/8oqNN1u39K — NBC Sports Redskins (@NBCSRedskins) August 8, 2018

In case you missed it

Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page,Facebook.com/TandlerNBCS and follow him on Twitter @TandlerNBCS and on Instagram @RichTandler.