Inside linebacker Martrell Spaight, a fifth-round pick who missed most of last season, is now catching the attention of teammates and coaches, even if they don’t always get his name right. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Martrell Spaight goes by many names, and it’s not by choice. The Washington Redskins linebacker’s first name is often mispronounced by the coaching staff, which has turned into an inside joke in the locker room.

“Some coaches will be like Martell, Montrell,” linebacker Will Compton said. “So we just started calling him whatever. Montell, Martravious, Marcellious, Montone — anything that comes to mind.”

There’s no mistake about who No. 50 is once the coaches turn on the film. The second-year inside linebacker has been impressive during the preseason, displaying his potential as a starter.

That will be difficult to accomplish this season, however, given who is in front of Spaight. He has been Compton’s backup at the “Mike” spot, with the responsibility of relaying the defensive calls from the sideline to the huddle. Compton has solidified his role with the first team, but the Redskins have a player capable of starting right behind him.

“You have to have depth at the linebacker position,” Redskins Coach Jay Gruden said. “It’s such a physical position. Those guys are doing a lot. To have two good inside linebackers that can make the calls and get the players in the right spot is very important.”

Spaight suffered a concussion in Week 1 of last season and missed the rest of the year. He didn’t like being away from the team, and he’s made up for lost time this preseason. (Pete Marovich/For The Washington Post)

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The Redskins dealt with a number of injuries at the position last year, which paved the way for Compton to develop from a backup to a starter at the end the season. They have plenty of depth now, led by the return of Spaight, who was on injured reserve because of a concussion during his rookie season.

Gruden got a glimpse of what Spaight is capable of accomplishing as a starter when he filled in for Compton, who received the night off, in Friday’s preseason game against the New York Jets. The fifth-round pick out of Arkansas thrived with the first team, tying a team high with four tackles and forcing a fumble in 29 snaps.

“Every day I count my blessing being able to continue to stay healthy and being able to go out here in these preseason games and just stay healthy,” Spaight said. “That’s my main focus is to continue grinding, get better acquainted with my teammates, continue to keep leading and just continue to keep making plays. I’m definitely thankful to be out here and play the game I love.”

Spaight suffered the concussion against the Miami Dolphins during the season opener. Without a certain timetable on when he’d return, Washington placed him on injured reserve the following week to give Spaight enough time for recovery and open up a roster spot. He wasn’t cleared by the team for a month.

The North Little Rock, Ark., native said it was a difficult year sitting out and not being able to practice, but Spaight has transitioned that hunger into this season as he has solidified a role on the depth chart.

“I’m always the guy that wants to be out there on the football field playing and being out there with my brothers,” Spaight said. “Just sitting at home watching everyone on TV play around and just have fun on the field, it was just tough for me to watch because I wanted to be with them.”

Spaight, here on the left, causes the Jets’ Kellen Davis to fumble as linebackers Perry Riley Jr. (obscured) and Preston Smith converge. (Evan Habeeb/USA Today Sports)

He possesses the physicality, the passion and leadership that would be ideal for an inside linebacker. Spaight had an intense pregame speech for the linebackers before Washington’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago, reminding his teammates to leave their legacies out on the field.

Spaight, who has a quiet personality off the field, didn’t grow into a leader until his second season in junior college when he was an all-American at Coffeyville [Kan.] Community College. He continued growing in that role at Arkansas, pairing it with the energy he has brought on the field since high school.

“He’s definitely someone you can count on as far as if someone were to go down and come in,” Compton said. “If I weren’t able to play, he’s as good as any one of us. He can be a starter in this league, and I’m proud of him. He’s put in a lot of work.”

There’s still plenty of room to grow. Compton said the next process for Spaight will be game-planning during the regular season and understanding the weekly adjustments when facing different offenses.

Spaight has looked comfortable signaling calls from the Redskins’ base defense during training camp, but he’ll have to learn how to make those minor tweaks necessary at the “Mike” spot.

Fortunately for Spaight, he will have time to learn from Compton throughout the year as the backup — until his name is called.

“How much he’s going to play on game day Monday night [in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers], I don’t know yet,” Gruden said. “But I think throughout the course of a 16-game season, he’s going to get plenty of playing time.”