The Washington Redskins suffered a week one loss in their 2015 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. The Kirk Cousins led unit only posted 10 points in the effort, and while they lost the contest, there were still some positive takeaways. The only Redskins player to reach the end zone was tight end Jordan Reed, as he hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
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In all, the third-year tight end caught seven passes for 63 yards and a touchdown on the day. It was a strong start for the promising young talent. And, while he has been injured a lot during the early portion of his professional career, Reed showed that he still has a lot of untapped potential if he can manage to stay healthy.
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Even though Pierre Garcon led the team in receiving yards with 74 to his credit, Reed was the person on the team with the most receptions with seven. At this very early stage in the 2015 NFL season, Reed trails only Jason Witten (8), Heath Miller (8), and Tyler Eifert (9) in receptions for a tight end.
If Reed is capable of sustaining this momentum, he could very easily become one of the better tight ends in the league. His development is extremely important, as tight ends are often favorable targets for young quarterbacks. Kirk Cousins would be the primary beneficiary for this season, at least.
If Cousins is to perform well and retain the starting quarterback job moving forward, Reed will have to be present and effective. As I’ve said many times before, I believe that Reed can be a very good tight end; he just has to find a way to stay healthy. He’s missed a total of 12 games prior to the start of the 2015 season, as he only appeared in 20 out of a possible 32 games.
Luckily for the Redskins, Reed made it through the first game. I know that’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but for a player that finds himself injured rather often, it’s a good sign. In the Redskins season opener against the Dolphins, the 25-year-old tight end showed what he is capable of when healthy.
I already mentioned that he led the Redskins in receptions and touchdowns, which is impressive, but he also led the team in targets. Reed, according to Pro Football Reference, was targeted a total of 11 times.
The number of times that Cousins elected to target Reed is telling, as it shows that he’s able to get separation and create problems for opposing defenses. It also shows that Washington’s young quarterback trusts Reed and his abilities. Trust and chemistry between the two will increase over time, and, in my opinion, Cousins statistics and play will greatly benefit with a healthy Reed in the lineup.
He’s the type of player that almost always finds a way to get open. His 6-3, 236-pound frame provides a large target and makes him a nightmare to cover. He’s too big for cornerbacks and too shifty for linebackers.
If Reed is able to stay healthy, I foresee him becoming Cousins’ favorite target.
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