Washington Redskins: Junior Galette is finally healthy and impressing

The Washington Redskins have waited two years to see a healthy Junior Galette. He’s finally healthy and having an outstanding training camp thus far.

The Washington Redskins signed outside linebacker Junior Galette on the cheap two years ago after he was abruptly released by the New Orleans Saints on the eve of training camp in 2015. This release came following the two most successful seasons of his young career. Unfortunately for the Redskins, Galette ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon and missed the 2015 season.

Fast forward to 2016. Galette appeared healthy and ready to report to training camp and it happened again. Galette ruptured his right Achilles and missed the 2016 season as well.

Now 29 years old, the Redskins and Galette agreed to another one-year deal back in March. Galette, who maintains a strong social-media presence, let fans know how good he was feeling before reporting to training camp last week.

One week into camp, Galette looks like the player Washington thought it was getting two years. Sure, Galette has yet to play in a game. However, when going one-on-one with Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams in practice, Galette has more than held his own thus far in camp. The explosiveness he was known for prior to coming to Washington, looks as if it never left.

Facing Williams on a daily basis is a good barometer for any pass rusher. It’s helped Ryan Kerrigan for years. And while Williams wins far more than he loses in one-on-ones, Galette has given him some competition this training camp.

Williams is such a good athlete that he can get beat with an initial punch, yet recover and stonewall the defender. It’s almost as if he toys with pass-rushers. Galette, though, is making Williams work even harder than he’s accustomed to in training camp.

Right tackle Morgan Moses is no slouch either, and Galette has worked extensively with him, too. Galette has gotten past Moses on more than one occasion.

If Galette can make it through camp fully healthy, what should the Redskins expect from him this season?

That’s easy. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky can rotate Galette in on passing downs to keep him fresh throughout the game. Washington has enough talent at outside linebacker including Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Trent Murphy and Ryan Anderson, to keep Galette healthy, rested and fresh.

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Galette’s game is based on first-step quickness and explosiveness. His injuries made some question if he could ever recover those traits. Thus far, things look good for Galette, but there’s a long way to go. Washington fans should be excited as a healthy Galette could reinvigorate a Redskins defense that’s been among the worst in the NFL over the last several years.