Here is what you need to know on Thursday, September 6, three days before the Washington Redskins open their 2018 season against the Cardinals.

Talking points

The Redskins will be going into Week 1 in very good health, a change from the way things appeared to be at times during training camp.

The best news on Wednesday was no news. TE Jordan Reed and third-down RB Chris Thompson were not on the injury report at all. That means that not only were they able to practice in full, but their injuries are considered to be of no unusual concern.

Thompson suffered a broken fibula in Week 11 last year. He has been rehabbing the injury ever since. The fifth-year player faced very limited contact during training camp and he did not play in the preseason. He has said that he still is waiting to have his leg tested by getting tackled by a hostile defender. But that’s more of a mental hurdle than a physical one.

Reed’s 2017 season never really got started and ended early. He was on the PUP list to start training camp and he played in only six games as a hamstring injury put him on injured reserve.

He had surgery to remove a bone in each of his big toes during the offseason. At least so far, the procedure seems to have cured what was ailing him. Like Thompson, he had limited contact in training camp and he did not play in the preseason.

Reed and Thompson are key parts of the offense. Last year Thompson was on pace to rack up 500 yards rushing and 800 receiving yards before he got injured. When Reed is healthy he can be a 1,000-yard receiver and score double-digit touchdowns.

If new quarterback Alex Smith needs some time to get in sync with his wide receivers, those two can help move the chains in the meantime.

The injury news on the defensive side of the ball was nearly as good. LB Zach Brown was on the injury report but as full participants in practice.

Brown suffered an oblique injury and he has not practiced much in the last couple of weeks. He was leading the league in tackles last year before a variety of injuries forced him out of the last three games.

Not on the report was DE Matt Ioannidis. He suffered knee and ankle injuries in the preseason opener in New England and he did not play in any of the last three games. Ioannidis showed ability against both the pass (4.5 sacks) and the run in his second season last year.

This means that despite some injury scares here and there, the only player who was projected to be a starter when OTAs started who will not be in the lineup against the Cardinals is RB Derrius Guice. He, of course, is out for the season with a torn ACL.

The good outlook now could change. That’s what we saw last season as a promising start to the season crumbled away under an avalanche of injuries. But the best you can ask for is to start healthy and that’s how it looks right now.

Trending on social

Should you start Adrian Peterson in your WK 1 fantasy football league? Gruden (jokingly) says he’ll get 40 touches, AD says bring it on! I discuss w/ @JPFinlayNBCS @TandlerNBCS on DC Sports Live! @NBCSWashington 10pm! #HTTR #Redskins pic.twitter.com/NeZZPcyyp8 — Julie Donaldson (@JDonaldsonNBCS) September 5, 2018

The agenda

Today: Practice 1:00; Jay Gruden and Greg Manusky press conferences and open locker room after practice approx. 3:00

Upcoming: Season opener @ Cardinals (Sept. 9) 3 days; Home opener vs. Colts (Sept. 16) 10 days; Packers @ Redskins (Sept. 23) 17

In case you missed it

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