In a surprising move, the Redskins released defensive lineman Anthony Lanier on Monday, only 48 hours after finalizing their 53-man roster.The team designated him as injured.

Lanier registered five sacks last season and had shown a knack for applying pressure to quarterbacks. This preseason, he logged a sack in the third preseason game against the Broncos.

The move comes as a surprise considering Washington developed Lanier. He signed with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and played four games that season. In 2017, he played 11 games and emerged late in the year as a pass rush specialist.

Taking Lanier's roster spot will be Caleb Brantley, who just got released by the Browns.

Brantley projected to be a second or third round draft pick in 2017 before an altercation with a woman in a bar in the weeks leading up to the draft. His stock plummeted after the altercation, and though he was only charged with a misdemeanor, Brantley was not selected until the 6th round. Two weeks after the draft, the charges were dismissed.

In 12 games last season for Cleveland, Brantley had two sacks, 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Lanier at his best was a pass rushing specialist in the Redskins nickel package. Brantley projects to be more useful on run defense and will be able to rotate in among the rest of the Redskins defensive line in more situations.

For more on Brantley, check out Charley Casserly's draft profile of the former Florida Gator from before his arrest in 2017 right here.

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