LB Robert Henson: He was very patient most of the game, pausing to read the play and then reacting. It enabled him to make a lot of stops. He also blitzed very well, running through and over the backs en route to the quarterback. Liked his footwork on his first blitz in which he started behind Albert Haynesworth and Chris Wilson on the right, then cut to the inside. The center could not react in time. Henson was kept clean by the line and he could move to the ball freely. The big downside? His knee injury. He was definitely on the bubble entering the game.

DL Anthony Bryant: The more I see, the more I like. It’s been clear for a couple games that he does a better job controlling the middle than Maake Kemoeatu. He plays with more power in his legs and that’s a huge help. He made plays in which he shed the blocker. He doesn’t always draw double teams, but he does hold his ground well. Some of his success has come vs. first team centers, too. Should he start over Kemo? Don’t know, but I do know that Kemo has not looked good this summer and this position could be an issue, if they don’t want to start Albert Haynesworth.

WR Devin Thomas: Thomas needed a good game and he responded with a strong effort. Thomas, whom team and league sources said was squarely on the bubble, showed a lot of what he could do: showing some explosiveness on kick returns; blocking downfield and he even made a couple nice catches. He wasn’t perfect; he seemed to cut off a route, based on a read, that led to an interception. He missed a block early in the game that led to a tackle for a loss. Was it enough? Should be for now. But have to ask yourself this: Why did he play the entire game? My own take is that the Redskins wanted to see what he could do over the course of a game. Thursday, he helped them.

TE Logan Paulsen: Liked his blocking and he even caught a pass. Every time I checked him out he seemed to drive his man out of the play. I don’t know how he wasn’t drafted and Dennis Morris was. Paulsen might have earned himself a spot; he has good fundamentals when it comes to blocking. His hands usually seem to be in the right place.

CB Justin Tryon: He had an interception in the end zone, but more importantly he made the routine tackles early in the game. Will that be enough? Tryon is another former draft pick fighting for a job with Ramzee Robinson and Byron Westbrook. A week or two ago he was trailing. After Thursday? Hard to say in this one. Close call.

WR Terrence Austin: The receiver showed his value. He’s an excellent route-runner and drives hard on his cuts. It gives him enough separation; he won’t get it by being physical, but that’s OK. He’s a steady player and more trustworthy than Brandon Banks. That matters.

Duds

And they didn’t:

CB Byron Westbrook: He almost seemed to play tighter than in previous games. He did make a couple tackles, but he also missed at least one. He wasn’t as sound in coverage as in previous games.

TE Lee Vickers: It’s not that he was bad, but it seemed like Paulsen was better. If the race was neck and neck, don’t think he came out ahead. He had a false start, but it really wasn’t about one penalty. It was about an overall ho-hum night.

G Kory Lichtensteiger: He’s probably not in jeopardy, but he didn’t stand out Thursday night. But Lichtensteiger was getting moved back in the pocket with too much frequency. That came while playing guard; he seemed to be more effective at center. Meanwhile, Erik Cook seemed to handle that spot fairly well. He improved a lot in camp.

QB John Beck: OK, he signed the extension the other day, but he didn’t exactly show a whole lot to say he should stick around. He likes changing his arm angle and that’s fine, but my problem is that he often does so without shifting his feet, too. Seems a bit lazy. Beck nearly was picked off on a pass to the outside that had little zip. Other times he makes you think, Hmmm, with a decent decision or spot-on throw. But I’m not sure I’m buying him just yet.

OG Chad Rinehart: The former third-round pick did not play until the final couple minutes and then it was at left guard (he’d always played on the right side). Rinehart did not have a great summer; for a big guy he gets stood up a lot. Bad sign for him.

WR/R Brandon Banks: Dropped another punt; dropped a pass. Just can’t afford to put a guy back there who can’t secure the ball. The No. 1 job of a punt returner is not to show your speed, it’s to catch the ball. In four games, he put the ball on the ground three times. It’s an issue. This team is trying to win now – whether or not it’s the right strategy doesn’t matter – do you think they’ll risk that for a rookie punt returner?

S Anderson Russell: He dropped an interception, had a pass interference and later an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Did we mention the drop would have been a touchdown? Bad night for the rookie. But he did make a good read and break on the dropped pick. It’s a start.

RT Clint Oldenburg: He allowed some pressures, but after some early struggles he seemed to improve. However, he got hurt late and that’s a bad sign for him. So, too, is the fact that Will Robinson played better – and did so at both tackle spots.

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