RICHMOND—Here is what you need to know on Tuesday, August 7, two days before the Washington Redskins open up their preseason at New England.

Talking points

Here is the status of Trent Williams summed up in one Jay Gruden sentence.

“He’s ready to go, but he doesn’t need to go.”

Williams had knee surgery shortly before the end of the regular season. After he sustained the injury in Week 4, he played in six games, but he rarely practiced. He still played well enough to get his sixth straight Pro Bowl invitation although he couldn’t play in the game.

The same line of reasoning is at work here in the preseason. It’s better to rest Williams than to put strain on the knee in games and practices that don’t count.

He has been participating in some phases of practice, mostly individual work. Gruden does plan to ramp up his practice participation and routine as training camp

Gruden doesn’t plan on having Williams on the shelf until Week 1 of the regular season.

“It is worth maybe resting him and taking care of him in that regard, but also he needs that coming off the ball,” said Gruden. “Pad level, getting up to the next level, communicating with the guard on the pass protection, pass sets are all different, quick game and play action game and all that stuff. You just got to get back in a rhythm snap count, listen to Alex [Smith].”

But on the other hand . . .

“Every time you take a rep out here in a live setting you have Preston Smith or Ryan Kerrigan, yes, it’s going to be a physical down, you know,” said Gruden. “You’re running, blocking, you’re trying to come off to the linebacker and people’s feet get tangled up, there’s a risk on every rep that we take.”

You want Trent Williams to last for 16 regular-season games and hopefully a few more after that. You also want him to be ready to play at his peak Week 1 when they face 2017 NFL sack leader Chandler Jones (17.0 sacks). Finding the middle ground to achieve both of those goals is the key.

Injury update

Out of Monday’s practice with injuries were: WR Brian Quick (thigh contusion), RB Kapri Bibbs (knee contusion), ILB Josh Harvey-Clemons (hamstring), ILB Zach Brown (stomach muscle strain). All of those players are day to day. Daron Payne remains out with an ankle injury and he is expected to return in a week to 10 days.

On the record

Jay Gruden on how roster battles can change quickly: “And the thing is what you think you know already—okay this guy has no chance and then all of a sudden preseason game he lights it up, then all of a sudden boom he’s in the mix also. So, you need more reps for him, so a lot still going to happen.”

Comment: The preseason games are where we will start to learn about long shots who have a real chance of making the teams. Players like S Kenny Ladler and CB Danny Johnson have done well in practice, but if they don’t show up when they’re playing against another team, none of that will do any good.

The agenda

Today: Jay Gruden press conference 1:15; Training camp practice 1:30

Upcoming: Preseason opener Redskins @ Patriots (Aug. 9) 2 days; Final cut (Sept. 1) 25 days; Season opener @ Cardinals (Sept. 9) 33 days

Trending on social

Only good for one carry per game but it will be a quality carry! (Video via @Mitch_Tischler pic.twitter.com/6aMR3A8YvZ — Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) August 6, 2018

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