Questions remain on a number of fronts as the Redskins enter Week 1. The coaches and players hit the practice field later this morning and will try to start sorting things out. Here are five of the most pressing issues facing the team.

1. Who starts along the defensive line? This unit still looks like the weakest area on the team. Outside of Chris Baker at left end, many of the same questions that loomed entering training camp remain unresolved. Kedric Golston spent the bulk of the preseason as the starting nose tackle, but is he really an upgrade over the ineffective and now departed Terrance Knighton? Kendall Reyes signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract and should start at right end, but he had little impact during the preseason and suited up for the fourth preseason game. Is Ziggy Hood the answer at either nose tackle or right end? What about Ricky Jean Francois? Can this unit really primed to cause more disruption this year or will we see more of the same?

2. Who starts at left guard? Spencer Long continued to get the first nod, but he ended the preseason with a sprained ankle. Shawn Lauvao would presumably start if Long remains hobbled, but who’s the pick if both are healthy? Can either help spark improvement in the run game? And the questions along the offensive line extend beyond guard. Gruden continues to praise Kory Lichtensteiger at center, but it seems management has some uneasiness about the quality of the position, at least behind Lichtensteiger. Will they look for another option over Long and Reiter to backup Lichtensteiger this week, or see how things play out?

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3. How healthy is Matt Jones? The second-year running back needs to have a big season, but he missed the last two weeks of the preseason with a partially separated left shoulder. Coaches remain hopeful that Jones will have healed to the point where he can play Week 1, but they might not get their answer until later in the week. Even if Jones feels good now, how effective will he be? The true test might not come until in the actual game, when he draws contact from defenders.

4. Do they have enough at outside linebacker? Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith appear set to give the team a formidable pass-rushing tandem, but Trent Murphy and Houston Bates have their limitations. The Redskins didn’t claim anyone on waivers, but we could see another edge rusher brought into the fold this week. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry has to find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback and might not have enough on the roster to make that happen.

5. Is Doctson ready to contribute? After watching from the sidelines for all but one week of spring practices, all of training camp and the preseason, top rookie wideout Josh Doctson finally has the green light to practice. The TCU product will try to make up for lost time in practice this week, but it’s hard to say how game-ready coaches will deem him after limited prep time. Doctson can certainly help in the red zone and on third downs as he gives Kirk Cousins another big target. But it could take him some time to knock off the rust.

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