Washington Redskins: 3 Things to watch in Preseason Week 2

3. How many starters will play?

Washington sat most of its starters last week. While the Redskins likely won’t sit as many starters as they did a week ago, many of their top stars are unlikely to suit up on Thursday night. Williams, Moses, Thompson, Reed, Josh Doctson are among those not expected to play.

None of these players are injured, with the exception of Doctson, who’s battled shoulder and heel issues. However, if the season were to begin on Sunday, all would likely play. There’s no need to rush any of these players back.

Moses went down on Sunday after being cut low on a play. It is one of the plays that incited the melee that saw both sidelines empty. The Redskins can ill-afford any injuries to their offensive line and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Williams or Moses didn’t play all preseason. It’s more likely each would play in Week 3 for a few series in order to knock the rust off more than anything else.

The biggest question is how much will Smith play. He’s likely to play at least a series — or two — against the Jets. Head coach Jay Gruden wants to see his new quarterback on the field with his teammates in live game action.