In 2012, Rex Grossman never played in a regular-season game. But he did play an important role on the Redskins, serving as the veteran mentor on a team whose other two quarterbacks, Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, were rookies.
In 2013, Grossman may have no role to play on the Redskins at all.
Rich Tandler notes at RealRedskins.com that if Griffin is fully recovered from knee surgery, the Redskins may be content to go into the regular season with only two quarterbacks, leaving Grossman as the odd man out. (The fourth quarterback currently on the roster, Pat White, probably isn’t going to make the team even if they keep three quarterbacks.)
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has been content to have only two quarterbacks on the roster in the past, and he may do so again this year. Especially considering that there are other positions at which Shanahan has expressed an interest in keeping more players: The Redskins appear poised to carry four tight ends on the roster this year after having only three last year, and kickoff specialist John Potter may join field goal kicker Kai Forbath on this year’s roster, meaning the Redskins would be carrying an extra kicker.
If the Redskins aren’t fully confident in Griffin’s health, then they’d definitely keep both Cousins and Grossman as backups. But the speedy progress Griffin is making in his rehab may just make Grossman expendable.