Chris Horton wasn’t surprised by the news. He could do the math on his own: the Redskins signed a veteran safety and drafted another.
In the end, the Redskins decided Horton’s future was elsewhere, making him among their cuts Saturday morning.
“I was prepared for this,” Horton said. “I felt I had a really good camp; the best thing is I came out healthy.”
Among the cuts: running back Keiland Williams, running back Evan Royster, receiver Isaac Anderson, linebacker Horatio Blades, rookie receiver Aldrick Robinson, rookie guard Maurice Hurt, linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, linebacker Edgar Jones, safety Anderson Russell, offensive tackle Clint Oldenburg, tight end Tony Curtis, running back Shaun Droughn, tight end Derek Schouman, offensive lineman Donovan Raiola, defensive lineman Jeff Stehle, offensive lineman Selvish Capers, defensive lineman Doug Worthington, nose tackle Anthony Bryant, corner Reggie Jones, offensive lineman Artis Hicks and defensive back Davonte Shannon.
Safety Kareem Moore will open the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first six games because of his knee.
The Redskins will go with two quarterbacks to open the season: Rex Grossman and John Beck. They cut Matt Gutierrez and Kellen Clemens.
There’s a good chance the Redskins aren’t finished with their cuts. They have eight receivers and no backup guards, save for second-year Erik Cook, who spent almost all his time at center this summer, after cutting Hicks. They also have just six defensive linemen with rookie Chris Neild as the backup nose tackle.
Also, fullback Mike Sellers made the team — despite some reports about him being cut; one team source, though, consistently said he would make the team – and receiver Donte Stallworth will as well. So, too, did receiver Brandon Banks, though the only doubt about him was his health. The coaches have always been high on Banks. Undrafted free agent Willie Smith, a tackle, also made the roster, a mild surprise.
Eight of the 12 draft choices made the roster: Neild, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, receiver Leonard Hankerson, running back Roy Helu, receiver Niles Paul, safety DeJon Gomes, linebacker Markus White and corner Brandyn Thompson.
“Now it’s time to get to work,” White said. “I was a little nervous, but it wasn’t unexpected.”
Horton, a seventh-round pick in 2008, was a pleasant surprise as a rookie. He intercepted three passes and earned the nickname, The Predator, because of his dreadlocks (which he cut this year).
“I’ve had a great time here,” he said, “from day one when no one knew who I was. I was just the kid out of UCLA with the long dreadlocks. When I came out in that first preseason game and I had a great game people started to feel and understand this kid could be something special.
“Unfortunately after that first year I suffered some really bad injuries and it took a while to get over that hump. I feel now that I’m over it, I’ve still got a lot to prove and show people that I can still play at that high level. But as far as my time here, it’s been unbelievable.”
Williams said he was only mildly surprised to be cut.
“I go back and look at the difference between this preseason and the preseason last year,” he said. “Last year I got an opportunity to show what I can do and this preseason wasn’t the same.”
Williams moved to fullback this summer, which he said stemmed from his ability to block as a running back last season. He was also considered a third-down back.
“It’s a numbers game and unfortunately I wasn’t in that cut,” he said. “I spoke with Kyle [Shanahan] and coach [Mike] Shanahan and they said they’d love to have me back if I don’t get picked up. But I’d rather be picked up and move forward.”
