On Wednesday, the Redskins announced the signing of Donald Penn to step in on the left side of the offensive line, indicating the team is proceeding for the time being without Williams, who is holding out over long-developing frustrations with the team and has requested to be traded or paid more. Fans were more focused on the players in front of them, but many remained split on how the Redskins should handle the situation.

“He should come back, and Dan Snyder’s got to step up and take care of both the medical needs and the contract needs,” said Debbie Lauro, a Redskins fan for almost 50 years, referencing the team’s owner. “He’s one of the best linemen in football. You can’t let go of him.”

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Like Lauro, 61-year-old Sheila Williams has followed her hometown team since she was young, but she had an alternative take on the situation. She was able to attend her first training camp this year with son Kofi Rhaman, 36. For the mother-son duo, Trent Williams’s absence feels personal.

“If you don’t want to play with us, go. Just go,” Sheila Williams said. “Leave us alone. We don’t want anybody on this team who doesn’t want to be here, who doesn’t want to play, who is not about it.”

Jeff Payne, 64, sat perched in a folding chair next to a new friend, Al Rawls, discussing Tuesday’s practice. The two agreed when asked about negotiating a higher salary with Williams.

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“I don’t think [the Redskins will negotiate]. I don’t think they should,” Payne said. “I think if he’s under contract, he should be here. Plus, with him having missed almost half of the last two seasons, he needs to prove that he can be sturdy and durable enough to play the whole season. Then we can talk about renegotiation.”

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By Thursday’s practice, there seemed to be a growing sentiment among the crowd to move on from Williams and make room for new players. But still, some said the seven-time Pro Bowl pick is too good and too valuable to let go, and the Redskins should do whatever it takes to keep him on the field.

“Absolutely [the Redskins should meet Williams’s terms],” said Lenny Cosentini, a Redskins fan for 60 years. “I think he’s their best player, so you pay the best players.”

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Cosentini said he attends camp every year with his son, Joe, who echoed his father’s sentiments.

“If it’s true what some people are saying, that he’s just soured on the Redskins, then, yeah, maybe. I guess you’ve got let him go,” he said. “But if there’s any way to fix that relationship, you fix it. You get him in here.”

Lenny chimed in, pleading as if he were talking directly to Williams: “I’m sorry. Please come back. We’ll do what we need to.”

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While camp attendees had differing opinions on how the Redskins should proceed, everyone — fans, coaches and teammates — seemed to agree on one point, encapsulated by Weyand: “We’re all just praying he shows up."